Home Game

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About the Book: 

It’s time to say it loud and clear – it’s not a luxury to have a home, it’s a human right. It’s time we all found room in our hearts to help end homelessness. Joining the Homeless World Cup family is the first step in realising that goal. From the foreword by VAL McDERMID

An estimated 100 million people worldwide are homeless and 1.6 billion live in sub-standard housing. But how can such a simple game like football tackle such a complex problem?

Mel Young and Peter Barr tell the story of the 1.2 million homeless people from 70 countries who have taken part in the Homeless World Cup since it started in 2003.

Home Game describes its profound impact on players, spectators and society at large – and how ‘a ball can change the world’

Reviews: 

Praise for The Homeless World Cup:

When people have a bad deal in life and things haven't been going their way, one of the ways they can get self-esteem back is through sports. The Homeless World Cup does that, and it also puts on the agenda that homelessness is a global issue. We all love football and we all hate homelessness – it's a no-brainer.  IRVINE WELSH, Novelist

All over the world, we've got to end homelessness. Everyone should have a home. It's a right and not a privilege. People treat the homeless as if they're sub-human. In order to overcome this discrimination, we have to unite against homelessness as we did when we fought apartheid.  ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU, speaking at the Homeless World Cup in Cape Town (2006)

I have seen how the Homeless World Cup really does inspire homeless people to change the direction of their lives. COLIN FARRELL, Actor and Ambassador for the Homeless World Cup

Football and the Homeless World Cup have the power to fire up a person to excel as a human being, to change their lives for the better. ERIC CANTONA, Footballer and Actor

The week-long tournament in Cardiff provided an incredible platform: for the players to demonstrate their skill and passion; for the public to engage with the tournament and with the varied debate and discussion that sat alongside football. The tournament generated a huge amount of positive goodwill in Cardiff and beyond, and the work to harness this and take it forward into a positive, lasting legacy, has already begun. MICHAEL SHEEN, Actor and Homeless World Cup Champion

I’m extremely proud to be joining the Homeless World Cup as a Champion. I’m excited to combine my passion for the game alongside the powerful work the Homeless World Cup does. Not only are they raising the issue of homelessness but actively doing something about it. CRISTINA RODLO, Actress and Homeless World Cup Champion

I didn’t think there could be anything better than the World Cup, but here it is: The Homeless World Cup! The only thing better than football in my eyes, is football that helps people. HERO FIENNES TIFFIN, Actor and Homeless World Cup Champion

The Homeless World Cup demonstrates the power of sport to bring people together and change lives for the better, something which I saw for myself first-hand when the tournament was held in Glasgow in 2016. The positive effect it had on the players lives and the inspiration they took from it was hard to miss. NICOLA STURGEON, Former First Minister of Scotland

About the Author:

MEL YOUNG MBE is a global social entrepreneur who is passionate about tackling poverty and ending homelessness around the world. He co-founded the Homeless World Cup in 2003 and under his leadership, the partner network has expanded to over 70 countries, helping to transform the lives of more than one million people. He has set up a number of social enterprises and continues to develop more. He also believes sport has the power to change the world and make lasting impact.

PETER BARR is a writer and journalist who now lives in the Highlands of Scotland, after nearly 40 years working in Hong Kong, Singapore and Edinburgh. A Trustee of the Homeless World Cup Foundation, Peter has been involved with the organisation since it was founded, and was the Communications Director in Mexico City in 2012.