EX-OFFENDERS and the community came together in Bettws last week for their own World Cup.

Newport Ex-Offenders Scheme hosted a World Cup themed event on Friday, July 13, that saw the community and different services come together for a football match, where a world champion boxer presented a trophy to winners.

Robbie Regan, a former world champion boxer, came to the event with his belts for photographs, and to present the winning team with a trophy.

This was the second annual tournament where groups have come together in the name of sport.

The event was attended by around 100 people from schemes over South Wales, hoping to encourage health and wellbeing, and improve social development.

There were 10 teams taking part from Newport, Blackwood, Ebbw Vale, Tredegar, Cardiff and Barry.

Services in attendance included Gwent Drug and Alcohol service, Gwent Police, Newport probation, Newport City Homes and Newport Youth Service.

Groups used the event to demonstrate their work in the community.

Daniel Taylor, a support worker at Newport Ex-Offenders Scheme, said: “The event highlights the coming together of a community in the name of sport and underpins the work that goes into supporting people within the community, which effectively reducing homelessness.

“We know that in order to prevent people from committing crime, one of the key factors is to feel part of the community that they live in - days like Friday go a long way to achieve that.”

Alongside the football there was a BBQ, keepy up challenge and a meet and greet Mr Regan.

“The staff team at Ty Trosiad would like to say a massive thank you to Robbie Regan, Civil 3G for their outstanding hospitality and the staff and young people at Communities for Work for helping with the running of the day,” Mr Taylor added.