A TEAM of 14 boys from the slums of Mumbai rounded up their life changing football tour of the UK with a personal invitation to Old Trafford from Manchester United’s Juan Mata. 

The tour was inspired and organised by OSCAR Patron, Lucinda Sowerbutts and supported by Beaudesert Park School and other schools around the country. 

Before leaving for Manchester the team spent several days with Beaudesert pupils, joining in art, music and geography lessons. 

OSCAR team captain, Sujal Singh, 14, gave a speech in morning assembly describing his life in the slums. 

He told the young audience they have no running water, no toilet, sharing 100 toilets between 60,000 residents. 

He described the smell and the rats and how it is not safe to go out at night.

He thanked everyone at Beaudesert for raising money and providing him and his team with an experience they will never forget.

In June 2017, Premiership player, Juan Mata went to the slum community in Mumbai and filmed the launch video for his new initiative Common Goal. 

It was here Juan met the founder of OSCAR, Ashok Rathod and the OSCAR children. 

Knowing they were in the UK he invited the team on a private tour of Old Trafford and to the opening night of his photographic exhibition at the National Football Museum. 

Plans are now underway to organise a tour for 14 underprivileged girls in 2018.

Lucinda Sowerbutts, Patron of the OSCAR Foundation said: “The UK tour has inspired the children, their families and the community as a whole. It has given a positive lift to everyone.”

Deputy Headmaster, Colin Macintosh said: “We get involved in a lot of charity events, but nothing has ever been quite like the OSCAR Tour. 

“The football match itself was a joyous occasion, but meeting and hosting the boys was what made this tour really special.

"The opportunity to understand and share their lives and hopefully change their lives is something that none of us will ever forget.” 

The proceeds of Mata’s photographs will be donated to OSCAR.

The children had a wonderful time, appearing on BBC Breakfast and appearing in all the national papers.

They spent their first night in a hotel, sleeping in a bed at the famous Hotel Football. In the morning they enjoyed watching themselves on television.

CBBC commissioned the award winning, Bristol based production company, Drummer TV to film the tour for the documentary ‘My Life’, which will be broadcast in 2018. 

Plans are now underway to organise a tour for 14 underprivileged girls in 2018.

Lucinda Sowerbutts, Patron of the OSCAR Foundation said: “The UK tour has inspired the children, their families and the community as a whole. It has given a positive lift to everyone. 

“Most importantly it will help change parents attitudes to what their children are capable of achieving by being involved with OSCAR. The children have returned to Mumbai with memories and experiences which will last a life time. They have learnt to believe in their dreams. 

“They made many new friends in the UK and everyone who came across them benefited from their optimism, enthusiasm and zest for life. It was a win win for us all.”