Global sports diplomacy organisation Football for Peace, Burnley Football Club and Baringa Global Management Consultancy, alongside stars from the football and entertainment world hosted an evening to raise awareness and tackle the water crises through a new campaign called ‘Rehydrate The Earth’.
It’s a decade-long initiative that harnesses the universal appeal of football to engage communities worldwide in tackling the water crisis in the UK and internationally.
Stars including Harry Redknapp, Dimitar Berbatov, Rachel Yankey OBE, Josh Norman, Kash Siddiqi, Bisma Ahmed, Princess Katerina of Yugoslavia, Makhtar Gueye, HH Sheikha Hend Al Qassemi, Alex Iwobi, Danny Welbeck, Idrisa Gueye, Victor Moses and Hayley McQueen attended the inaugural Football for Peace Water Gala in London on 7th May at Nobu Portman Square.
Hosted by TV personalities, Scarlette Douglas, David Garrido and Braydon Bent guests also included Adebayo Akinfenwa, Stuart Douglas, Avram Grant, Amadou Onana, Oumar Niasse, NFL All-Pro Josh Norman, MP Seema Malhotra, The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Citizenship) and Under Secretary of State (Minister for Equalities), alongside many more from the worlds of business, celebrity entertainment and sport.
The Football For Peace Water Gala featured an uplifting musical performance from Heather Small MBE and an exclusive DJ set from Denise Van Outen plus a live charity auction, with proceeds supporting Football for Peace’s global water sustainability, youth action days, and peacebuilding initiatives hosted by Hugh Edmeades.
Alan Pace, Chairman of Burnley Football Club said:
“Burnley Football Club is proud to support Football for Peace and in exciting news co-host their Rehydrate the Earth Water Gala. Football has the power to drive change, and we’re delighted that we can unite with Football for Peace and Baringa to tackle the water crisis and champion change through sport and leadership. I’m very much looking forward to what I’m sure will be a wonderful gala and I hope as many people as possible can join us as we aim to achieve a more hydrated world.”
Former Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Bulgarian National Team Captain Dimitar Berbatov said:
“Football gave me the world – now it’s time we give something back. I’m proud to stand with Football for Peace and use our platform to tackle one of the most urgent issues of our time: water. Every child, every community deserves access to it. Together, we can rehydrate the earth.”
The United Kingdom faces increasing water scarcity concerns, with population growth, weather challenges and aging infrastructure placing significant stress on freshwater resources.
Reports indicate that by 2050, demand for water in the UK could outstrip supply if urgent conservation and management strategies are not implemented. Furthermore, extreme weather patterns, including prolonged droughts and flooding, have exacerbated water security challenges across the nation, necessitating immediate action.
Globally, groundwater depletion is emerging as a critical crisis, with over 2.5 billion people relying on aquifers for drinking water. Unsustainable water extraction, pollution, and shifts in precipitation patterns have severely impacted groundwater availability. In many regions, excessive water withdrawal has led to land subsidence, agricultural losses, and even forced migration.
The evening was part of a wider campaign where Football for Peace has previously partnered with UK Parliament, Children’s Parliament, U.S. congressional members, International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre (IGRAC) and United Nations Water to raise awareness about sustainable groundwater management. Previous notable events have demonstrated that football can be a powerful platform for social change.
“Football is our strategy for a more united and hydrated world,” said Kash Siddiqi, Co-Founder, Football for Peace.
“We’re going from the USA World Cup to the Saudi World Cup, mobilising people to take action for water. This is about creating a global movement through the power of sport inspiring leaders, youth, and communities to be part of the solution.”
Adrian Bettridge, Managing Partner at Baringa said:
“We’re proud to have supported Football for Peace in mobilising their Rehydrate the Earth campaign, which is restoring and safeguarding groundwater to the most vulnerable communities globally.
“Our water experts helped FFP to attract support from organisations by understanding how addressing water scarcity is linked to their corporate goals and developed the ambitious plans to expand the campaign from its launch to its operation.”
