MORE than 60 youngsters joined together to take part in a five-a-side football tournament that was aimed at creating community cohesion.

The competition was held at Bradford Academy in Bowling and hosted by the city’s e:merge project.

Children aged 11 to 16 years from communities across Bradford came together in two leagues of juniors and seniors.

Youth co-ordinator Sarah Faulkner said four senior teams took part and eight junior teams. She said children from Bierley West Bowling, Tyersal and Wyke - all places where e:merge works - took part.

“They all enjoyed it and there was a friendly competitiveness,” said Mrs Faulkner. “It was held to bring all the communities together - it was community cohesion.

“E:merge project works in all the areas the youngsters come from.

“The tournament was to make them all come together.

“I think it definitely teaches them a lot more skills, in that they get to know other people that are not living in their area.

“It can be a struggle to get some young people from, say, Holme Wood, to come up to Sutton estate in Tyersal to work on the project.

“Events like this show them all that they know who each other is and that there is nothing to worry about from mixing as a group.”

Bierley won the seniors’ tournament, and Mrs Faulkner said: “It was very bitterly cold, but it was a really good event. It is another great event happening in the BD4 area.”

E:merge teamed with the Bradford City Community Foundation and the Affinity Sutton Youth Sports project.

Mrs Faulkner said: “The tournament was all about bringing different communities together and promoting community cohesion.

“And also about giving the young people something to do in the holidays - as well as it being something they really enjoy.

“We also have massive partnership working as it was started by e:merge and now us at Clarion (formerly Affinity Sutton) are helping there and the Bradford City Community Foundation also help out.”

E:merge works in areas of Bradford on sport, education, faith and community.

A spokesman for the project said: “We use sport within our detached youth work sessions and drop in sessions to engage with young people, bring young people together and break down barriers.

“This leads to regular led sessions focusing on a particular sport, and potentially to coaching awards, as well as to cross community competitions, trips and skills-based sessions.”

E:merge has been working in Bradford for 20 years.