Who we are
Bengal Dragons Foundation (BDF) is a dynamic community-led organisation based in Wales, dedicated to empowering marginalised communities, particularly those from South Asian and Muslim backgrounds, through sport, sustainability, education, health and wellbeing. Established to bridge social, cultural, and economic divides, BDF uses grassroots sports as a tool for inclusion, youth development, and community cohesion. Their projects create safe, inclusive spaces where young people, especially girls and underrepresented groups can thrive.
Bengal Dragons Foundation works in partnership with the Football Association of Wales, Sport Wales, the Welsh Government, local mosques, schools, and health organisations, and is proud to represent a growing movement towards culturally responsive, socially just community development.
Bengal Dragons Foundation is at the forefront of championing inclusion within sports and employment. The foundation actively advocates for inclusive sports venues and stadiums that are welcoming to all, ensuring facilities are equipped with prayer spaces and culturally respectful policies. These efforts aim to break down barriers faced by Muslim communities, especially women and young people, in accessing mainstream sport.
BDF also promotes inclusive employment practices, working with employers, sports bodies, and training providers to create Muslim-friendly workplaces that respect faith-based needs, such as flexible scheduling during Ramadan and access to prayer facilities.
Health and wellbeing are central to BDF’s mission, with initiatives like Healthy Lives Matters raising awareness about heart health through community events, mosque-based fitness, and health screenings. Their Seeds of Hope programme supports neurodiverse children and families, with a focus on South Asian and Muslim communities.
Their work in the UK is complemented by a strong international outreach, particularly in Bangladesh, where they collaborate with local NGOs to support education, nutrition, and youth empowerment.
The Foundation is equally committed to addressing food poverty and social isolation through its Ramadan Food Distribution and Iftar Programmes. Each year, BDF coordinates food parcel deliveries and inclusive Iftar events across Wales and rural Bangladesh. In Wales, they work with mosques and community centres to distribute food packs and host Iftars that promote unity among diverse communities. In Bangladesh, they partner with local organisations to support needy families with essential Ramadan provisions. These efforts reflect BDF’s core values of compassion and dignity and ensure no one is left behind during the holy month.
Our project
Empowering Muslim and South Asian Youth through Inclusive Football
With generous support from the COSARAF Foundation, Bengal Dragons Foundation is delivering a football-based empowerment project that supports Muslim and South Asian children and young people across Wales. Centred around a youth tournament at the Swansea.com Stadium in June 2025, the project aims to break down access barriers and provide young people from underrepresented backgrounds with opportunities to participate in high-quality sport and showcase their talents in a professional setting.
The initiative supports over 80 children aged 7 to 11 years from Newport, Cardiff, Swansea and surrounding areas, with football training led by dedicated coaches based in all three cities. The project provides culturally sensitive sportswear, including modest kits featuring tracksuits and sports hijabs, ensuring all participants feel comfortable, confident, and included. COSARAF’s logo will be proudly displayed on the kits, highlighting its commitment to community-based inclusion.
As well as promoting physical activity, the project embeds health and wellbeing education throughout its sessions. Families and participants receive information on nutrition, heart health, and mental wellbeing, delivered in collaboration with community health professionals. A core element of the programme is also youth leadership, with selected participants encouraged to document their experiences through photography, video, and storytelling, and some trained as youth ambassadors to represent their communities at future events.
The Swansea.com Stadium tournament will serve as a celebratory milestone for the project, bringing together families, faith leaders, coaches, and partners in a landmark event that puts representation, aspiration, and inclusion at its heart. Importantly, the project is designed with sustainability in mind, offering pathways into long-term club participation, linking into the Football Association of Wales’ wider development structures.
This initiative is an extension of BDF’s longstanding mission to create meaningful, lasting change by equipping young people with confidence, opportunity, and a sense of belonging, both on and off the pitch. Through COSARAF’s support, this project is enabling young people to dream bigger and communities to feel seen, heard, and celebrated.
