War Child UK – the specialist charity dedicated to supporting children living in conflict, have appointed rising football star Rinsola Babajide, as their first ever sports ambassador.
Rinsola is a professional football player who most recently represented Liverpool Women’s FC and has featured in the England Lionesses squad. Starting her career at Crystal Palace, then Milwall, and Watford before making a career defining move to Liverpool Ladies C in 2018 where she’s made over 50 appearances. Rinsola received her first England senior call up in 2020.
Now, she will also be lending her support and voice to raise awareness of War Child’s work in protecting, educating and standing up for the rights of children living through conflict. The charity aims to reach children as early as possible when conflict breaks out and stay to support them through their recovery – keeping them safe, helping them learn and cope with their experiences, and equipping them with skills for the future.
Of her new role with the charity, Rinsola Babajide says: “I am extremely proud to represent War Child, and all it stands for. Being named the charity’s first EVER Sporting Ambassador is an immense honour, and I’m looking forward to doing even more for this amazing Charity.
Children are truly the future, so giving kids in conflict zones a chance to regain some of the things they lost through conflict - like education, a safe home and in some cases family, where they have been separated, is a no brainer and made it even easier decision for me to become involved.
I felt that I should use whatever platform I have to bring awareness to War Child’s amazing work, and in time I hope I could help make a difference in the lives of the children who need help."
Matt Pywowar, Philanthropy and Partnerships Manager at War Child UK says: “We are thrilled to have Rinsola joining the War Child family in her capacity as our first dedicated Sports Ambassador. We know the value of sport and play in childhood development and social interaction, and something so many of the children engage in while visiting our War Child safe spaces. As we look towards future plans of broadening our programmatic work and indeed fundraising activity, to incorporate a bigger focus on sport, we feel grateful to have Rinsola with us on that journey”
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Notes to Editor:
About War Child UK
War Child UK is the only specialist charity for children affected by conflict. For more than two decades we’ve been driven by a single goal – for no child’s life to be torn apart by war. We aim to reach children as early as possible when conflict breaks out and stay to support them through their recovery – keeping them safe, helping them learn and cope with their experiences, and equipping them with skills for the future.
We understand children’s needs, respect their rights, and put them at the centre of the solution and campaign for changes to policies and practices to support children in conflict, working with children and young people themselves to demand their rights.
Together with our partners we deliver our vital, life-saving work in 15 countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and Latin America. In 2019 alone, we reached over 100,000 children.
Web: https://www.warchild.org.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/warchilduk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WarChildUK
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/warchilduk
Charity number: 1071659
