Brighton and Hove Albion FC in partnership with Le Havre Athletic Club, Le Havre, France (HAC) have a joint programme funded by Interreg, whose aim is the promotion of cross cultural community initiatives and professional development through football.

The project works to build a dynamic and lasting partnership between BHAFC and HAC, to promote and deliver learning and cultural activities using football as the driving force to increase participation and raise cultural awareness amongst the citizens of Le Havre and Brighton and Hove. The project is all about encouraging individuals to participate in new and exciting structured cultural activities that would otherwise be unavailable to them.

Activities have centred around the expansion and development of the education programme and the study support centres of both clubs; the expansion and development of community programmes giving each club closer ties with the communities they serve and with each other; a professional development programme and a wide range of cross border exchanges, which also include areas of deprivation from both cities.

The first phase of the Interreg project was launched in 2004 as a two-year programme ending in December 2006. Following on from the success of the first phase, the project was granted an extension with a second phase running from Spring 2007 - Spring 2008. It is hoped by both clubs that the programme and their partnership will continue after this.

PHASE 1: 2004 - 2006

Community Trips
The objective of the community trips is to increase cross border mobility, citizenship, cultural awareness and bilingualism amongst groups of people with a shared interest and passion in football, who may not normally have the opportunity to travel and take part in these sporting/cultural activities. Four groups from Brighton have visited Le Havre during this period (including a diversionary group and a disability group), and return visits from our French counterparts to Brighton have also taken place.

Educational Staff Trips
Over the course of the project there have been several trips by members of the educational staff from both clubs to exchange information and views, receive guidance and new ideas to develop and enhance their respective educational projects. Also the project has worked to provide ICT educational activities for socially and economically deprived individuals in both region. Highlights have been the official opening of HAC's Study Support Centre, the first study centre of any football club in France, and the official opening of larger, two-storey ICT/educational facility at BHAFC, thus expanding the provision available for community education in Brighton.

Professional Staff Trips
The aim with these exchanges is the professional development of youth and senior players, coaching staff and physiotherapists. During the first phase of the project there were two first team and two youth team visits from BHAFC to Le Havre, and the equivalent visits from HAC to Brighton. In addition there were smaller visits by staff focussing on physiotherapy and on youth development.

All activities and visits have been deemed a success by both sides and have served to develop closer ties between the two partner football and the surrounding areas that they serve.

Click here to view a summary report for Phase 1.

PHASE 2: 2007 - 2008

The extension Phase 2 of the project will include two additional exchange visits from Brighton, the youth team and a diversionary group, as well as exchange visits from our counterparts in Le Havre, with the aim of further developing the cross cultural benefits outlined in Phase 1.

Enquiries

For more information please email Albion's Interreg Project Manager, Alan Sanders.