Turning passion into compassion with the Refugee Council’s Fair Shot movement
How we helped the Refugee Council and Comic Relief turn passion into compassion with Fair Shot
Football fans come from all walks of life, but they all share one thing: a passion for the beautiful game. Fair Shot, a campaign powered by the Refugee Council and Comic Relief, aims to harness this energy, uniting fans all over the country towards a goal of fairness and compassion for all. To launch this movement, Fair Shot needed a dynamic digital home to rally supporters and showcase its mission and impact. Since its May 2024 debut, the resulting website has become a focal point for fans and supporters, amplifying Fair Shot’s message and driving the movement forward.
The Fair Shot Vision
At the heart of the campaign is Fair Shot FC; a unique squad united by their love for football. This team comprises refugees and people seeking asylum from Afghanistan, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Namibia, Senegal, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Syria, and The Gambia.
Fair Shot has partnered with football clubs across the English leagues, including the Wolverhampton Wanderers, Sheffield Wednesday, and Rotherham United. Their mission? To host friendly 5-a-side matches across the football season involving Fair Shot FC and the clubs' loyal fans. During these matches, club supporters team up with Fair Shot FC players, experiencing the game they love on their cherished club's training facilities.
But it's more than just a game. These events create opportunities for meaningful conversations, helping people recognise that within the football community, there is far more that unites us than divides us.
Bringing the Vision to Life
Working closely with the Refugee Council, The Developer Society tackled the challenge of bringing Fair Shot's vision to life through a dynamic new website that aims to rally fans, recruit football teams, and expand partnerships. Our team enthusiastically crafted a design that captures the spirit of football and unity, transforming Fair Shot's goals into digital reality.
Here's how we tackled the project:
1. User journey mapping
We carefully mapped out user journeys to optimise sign-ups and engagement.
2. Site development
Using a Wagtail Content Management System (CMS), we built custom page types and blocks to enact Fair Shot's vision.
3. Key features
Competition entry system for seamless match sign-ups. Dynamic latest updates section to keep users informed. Interactive "Get Involved" functionality to encourage participation.
4. Responsive Design
Ensuring the site looks great and functions smoothly on all screen sizes and devices.
The result? A dynamic, user-friendly website that invites visitors to enter competitions to play, see the latest updates, and get involved in this inspiring initiative.
Impact and Feedback
The response to the new website has been overwhelmingly positive, and knocked the Refugee Council team’s socks off.
Thanks so much! We've had lots of really positive feedback on the site, so thanks for all of The Developer Society’s support in making it happen.
Luke Stewart, Senior Campaigns and Community Engagement Officer Refugee Council
Looking Ahead
The Developer Society’s mission is to create meaningful change, and this project was a fantastic opportunity to do just that. We're excited to continue supporting Fair Shot as the movement grows, using our technical expertise to help bridge communities through the universal language of football.
As passionate about technology as Fair Shot is about football, we’re proud to play our part in turning passion into compassion.