South East Parakeets FC are a women's football club based in SE London. On the 26th of September we are taking on a 5 hour 5 aside challenge to raise money to support Afghan refugees.

It's as simple as it sounds really... we'll be playing a 5 aside football match for 5 hours straight. Yes there will be subs and some supportive relay, but the match will be going for 5 hours straight non-stop!

Two of our players at the club grew up in Afghanistan, one of whom was recently interviewed for BBC news on the conflict, how it had affected her and how she was wanting to drive awareness and be a voice for everyone. As her teammates we were all incredibly proud and wanted to show our support, but when watching the heartbreaking footage on the news and hearing the headlines, it's so difficult to know what we can do or how to help. So this event is a very small way we are coming together to show our support and raise some funds for a charity supporting Afghan refugees in the UK. With women and the LGBTQI+ community particularly under threat from the current conflict in Afghanistan, this is a cause that's incredibly important to us.

We'd like to thank St Dunstan's 5-aside pitches in Catford for giving us the pitch for free for the event, allowing us to maximise our fundraising.

Who we're raising money for...
UNHCR Afghanistan Appeal
The people of Afghanistan have lived with conflict for more than four decades. Entire generations have never known peace and millions remain displaced. Renewed violence and instability have created an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Hundreds of thousands of people have been newly displaced across the country since the start of this year alone. Many had to flee with only the clothes on their back and are struggling to survive in appalling conditions, sheltering in tents made only of cloth. UNHCR is on the ground and doing everything possible to protect civilians, but urgently needs public support to help it reach families in desperate need. Please help us to protect people forced to flee. £35 will provide five sanitary kits including laundry soap, toilet soap and sanitary napkins.£52 can buy a core relief kit, providing a family with blankets, sleeping mats, mosquito nets and a kitchen set. £310 can provide an emergency shelter kit, inc. a family tent and plastic tarpaulins.