When West Walker Primary School in Newcastle-upon-Tyne needed help to integrate two of their new children who had just arrived from Iran, Dyar Kakrash, 8, and his three-year-old sister Sakar, Newcastle United Foundation had just the man for the job.
Shayan Gazerani, the Foundation’s school project officer, had himself moved from Iran to England in 2002 without speaking English.
“It is always special to help people who are new to the region and to help them feel welcome and safe in their new home here,” he says.
“It can be very challenging, and especially tough for children and young adults, who can struggle to make friends in school or in their street if there is that added language barrier.”
Shayan has recently been named as one of the Newcastle United Foundation Premier League Primary Stars Facilitator winners as part of the Premier League Charitable Fund (PLCF) 10-year anniversary celebrations – congratulations to Shayan and many thanks for all of his hard work supporting our families.