Camden and Islington United (CandI) is a community-led and owned football club with a vision of reclaiming space for togetherness, using the power of football and community outreach. One of the aims of the club is to be more than a vehicle for football: in everything it does it strives to create positive new experiences for its community members, regardless of their age or background, and to support them to make a difference to the world of CandI and beyond.
CandI has come on leaps and bounds since its inception in 2019. On the pitch, it has established women’s and men’s teams, with plans for children’s and community teams and sessions. Off the pitch, CandI galvanised the community to volunteer and raise money for a local food bank as part of its Covid response. Additionally, CandI has run a number of programmes for local youth centres.
Football has provided Joel with opportunities, connections and leadership experience; something he wants for everyone in his community. Many of CandI’s players have been directly impacted by the process of Stop and Search, so Joel is leading Know Your Rights sessions with players and supporters to advise what to do if they are stopped by the police: empowering them with de-escalation techniques and supporting them to campaign legally and impactfully against racism.
Joel applied to The Multiplier to share opportunities and challenges with other like-minded community leaders, and because he could see how the programme’s mentoring and monthly gatherings would support his personal growth.
‘While isolation is the gateway into abuse, addiction, prejudice, discrimination, educational inequity, racial inequity, social inequity. Community is the answer.’ https://t.co/Mm3BDvSuja
— Joe-L Williams (@LifeLongOdyssey) February 20, 2021
Joel was selected for The Multiplier as his project reflects all the values of The Cares Family. He’s created a club for all ages with kindness, trust, bravery and – above all else – community at its core.