Street Child United
News
BSU students help amplify young voices on the global stage through Street Child United
Thursday, 11 June, 2026World Cup fever is fully setting in, with the start of the world’s biggest sports tournament set to captivate millions across the globe for the next month. The success and reach of the World Cup isn’t just limited to the tournament itself, with BSU students, staff and alumni coming together to help power one if its great supporting initiatives.
Led by Professor of Illustration Tim Vyner, students and graduates from across BSU’s School of Design and School of Art, Film and Media travelled to Mexico to support the Street Child United event, using creativity and design to support young people connected to the streets from around the world.
Street Child United is a global organisation that uses sport, art and advocacy to challenge the stigma faced by street-connected children and to ensure their voices are heard by decision-makers. Its flagship events run alongside major sporting tournaments, such as the World Cup, bringing together young people from dozens of countries to compete in a sporting event and participate in creative workshops. Participants also get the chance to speak directly to policymakers about the changes they want to see in their own communities.
Tim first became involved with Street Child United at the FIFA World Cup in Russia in 2018, where he was invited to document the event through illustration. Reflecting on his first steps with Street Child United, Tim said:
"It's a sporting World Cup that takes place in the same year as FIFA World Cups, but it represents the voices of young people connected to the streets around the world. Sport provides the spotlight moment for the teams, but there are also congress sessions where young people discuss the changes they want to see, and arts workshops that help them communicate those ideas."
Recognising the potential for students to benefit from the experience while contributing meaningful work, Tim began creating opportunities for Bath Spa University students to become involved. Three students joined him at the Street Child World Cup in Qatar in 2022, followed by further students at the Cricket World Cup in India in 2023 and most recently at the Street Child World Cup in Mexico.
What started as a single illustrator documenting an event has evolved into a growing team of students, graduates and volunteers delivering large-scale creative programmes to hundreds of young people. As Tim reflected:
"The strength of the project for me is that it's created a legacy for students. Through the arts programme we've driven it closer to the congress sessions and tried to use arts as a way of amplifying the voices of the young people."
At the recent event in Mexico, 28 teams representing 21 countries took part. Alongside the football tournament, participants engaged in creative workshops led by BSU students and graduates, creating banners, posters and zines exploring their identities, cultures and aspirations.
For Graphic Design student Madeleine Webb, who joined the Mexico project through a fully funded bursary, the experience proved transformational. She reflected:
"I would never have been able to do this if it wasn't for the bursary. It meant I didn't have to worry about how I was going to fund my flight or anything else. I could just fully enjoy and embrace the opportunity."
Initially nervous about joining a team made up largely of graduates and postgraduate students, Madeleine quickly discovered new confidence in her own abilities whilst helping deliver workshops to young people from around the world. Madeleine said:
"I definitely felt that once we were out in Mexico running the workshops, I really came into my own. Teaching a bunch of young people who don't speak the same language how to make a zine or screen print was something that I thought I would be nervous about, but I was really surprised that before the workshops I wasn't nervous at all – I was just excited."
The experience also demonstrated the power of creativity to cross cultural and linguistic boundaries. Madeleine touched on how sport, and art, both transcend language barriers:
"A lot of people talk about sport being able to transcend language, but it was really impressive to see that art could do that as well. Everyone was so engaged. I thought there might be hesitation because people had come for the football, but actually everyone was really involved in the creative activities."
The impact of those activities was immediate. As Tim recalled:
"I remember one of the team leaders saying to me afterwards, 'We weren't a team until we did that activity'. That art activity had brought together his group of young people and consolidated them as a team.
I think it's great to build a team of people that have an opportunity to take part in something that they will forever talk about. For students who are graduating and moving into a complex world of work, it gives them something that helps them stand out and something meaningful to talk about with future employers."
That impact is already clear for Madeleine as she prepares to begin her professional career. Reflecting on how its impacted her craft, Madeleine said:
"It's really changed my whole degree experience. People are going to ask me what I did at university, and being able to talk about Street Child United is amazing. It's such a unique opportunity and it's given me something that sets me apart professionally.
It's also definitely helped my view of myself in professional settings as well. It's given me confidence to share my opinions and know that I do actually know what I'm talking about and that I'm there for a reason."
As Street Child United looks ahead to future events, including activities linked to upcoming World Cups, Bath Spa University's involvement continues to grow. For Tim, the partnership demonstrates how creative education can open doors while making a genuine difference:
"There's always a feeling that we're in this together and we're going to make it work. Students come away having made work they're proud of and that they feel is going to make a difference. That's what makes the experience so powerful."
You can find out more information about Street Child United on their website, and be sure to check out BSU’s social media channels for pictures from the trip.