< Back The Huddle Iftar 2024 Ramadan celebrations at The Huddle Previous Next

< Back Ramadan Soccer Tournament: Uniting Communities Through Sport at North Melbourne A celebration of youth, energy, and community. Moukhtar Daher Previous Next

The efforts of midfielder Charlie Lazzaro have been recognised with the Peter Scanlon Community Award for 2022 < Back 'Laz' rises to claim Peter Scanlon Community Award Samantha Weston 2 Sept 2022 The efforts of midfielder Charlie Lazzaro have been recognised with the Peter Scanlon Community Award for 2022 Charlie Lazzaro experienced first-hand the impact that AFL players have on fostering a love of the sport in-person throughout his childhood in Geelong. He knew that if his dreams of playing professional football came to be, and if the opportunity ever presented itself, that he had a strong desire to return the favour to his new community in North Melbourne. Charlie was presented his jumper for Round 1 of 2021, and since then, has played 24 games for North Melbourne at a senior level. The now 20-year-old has been commended for his professionalism, resilience and maturity, the likes of which resemble someone who has been playing at a professional level for far longer than himself. He gives some of this credit to his senior teammates, who along with the younger cohort, have “…looked after us and really helped us transition into the AFL environment and really encouraged us not to go into our shells.” Charlie puts a lot of emphasis on team spirit at North Melbourne, and how the jump from playing Under 18s to AFL is underpinned by looking after your teammates, rather than individual performance. Since the middle of 2022, Charlie has been involved on a weekly basis with a program run by The Huddle that is very close to his heart. Huddle Up! Is a multisport program that provides young people with the opportunity to get involved and get active through social games of a variety of sports, as well as health and fitness classes delivered in a safe and inclusive environment. Growing up in Geelong, Charlie looks back fondly on the experience of AFL players coming to visit his school or trainings to share advice and get fellow aspiring players excited about what a future in footy might look like. These experiences helped shape as a player, and he is proud to be able to provide this experience to his new community at North Melbourne. Later into Charlie’s school years, he took part in the Duke of Edinburgh - an international youth development program that allows young people explore their full potential and find their purpose, passion, and place in the world. One focus of the Award is Voluntary Service, and Charlie spent his volunteer time throughout the program finding his passion for helping others and learning about the profound effect that volunteering his time can have on the wider community. [The Duke of Ed] was a pathway, and once I was lucky enough to get drafted to North, I was able to start working with The Huddle Program, and I’ve really enjoyed helping out since I started. - Charlie Lazzaro It is clear to Huddle Up! attendees and volunteers that Charlie has a special eye for inclusion. He can be seen always going out of his way to make sure every young person is getting the most out of the experience. If he spots someone falling a bit behind or catches them in their shell, he will always go out of his way to get them involved and getting the most out of the experience. He also makes the effort to hang around and shoot hoops or chat with the participants after the session is complete and shows a real joy for fostering these important relationships. On Thursday night, Charlie was named the winner of The Peter Scanlon Community Award, which exemplifies the spirit of giving, going the ‘extra mile’ on numerous occasions, often without recognition, and never expecting fanfare. During his acceptance speech, he talked about what an honour receiving the award was and how much it means to him. He has come full circle in giving back to his community what was so important to him in his youth, and has made a lasting impression on so many of young people at The Huddle in the process. Previous Next

Fred Alale AM, Yasseen Musa OAM, and Gary Lee OAM have been recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours List, for significant service to the multicultural communities of Victoria < Back Huddle trio honoured for services to the community North Media 1 Feb 2023 Fred Alale AM, Yasseen Musa OAM, and Gary Lee OAM have been recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours List, for significant service to the multicultural communities of Victoria Fred Alale AM, Yasseen Musa OAM, and Gary Lee OAM have been recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours List, for significant service to the multicultural communities of Victoria. The Order of Australia is the pre-eminent way Australians recognise the achievements and service of their fellow citizens. Last week, three of North Melbourne Football Club and The Huddle’s most respected volunteers were honoured for their services to the community. Fred Alale AM, a passionate North Melbourne Football Club member, has over two decades of experience as a public service professional in both Australia and the UK. More recently, he has been a part of the Victorian governments efforts to keep Victorian businesses in line with the Public Health Officer’s regulations. He has been recognised and awarded with this honour as a result of his enormous contributions to the African Australian communities that reside in Victoria. He serves on multiple boards apart from The Huddle’s Advisory Committee, including Chair of the African Music and Culture Festival, and is the Treasurer of Africa Day Australia Inc. He is also a member of the Victorian African Communities Action Plan implementation committee. Alongside Fred on the Advisory Comittee of The Huddle and a Committee Member of the African Music and Cultural Festival, is Gary Lee OAM. He was recognised for service to the community through a range or organisations. First arriving in Melbourne as an international student from Malaysia, Lee quickly fell in love with the city, the North Melbourne FC and everything it had to offer. There are a lot of people in Australia who don’t have much but are willing to give everything to help others, and this Australian spirit is everything I am about. - Gary Lee OAM Working closely with The Huddle, Lee has worked tirelessly with international students empowering them to learn new skills, grow their network, and form new connections within the community through Welcome to AFL sessions. Gary continued his work throughout the pandemic, even if that meant that Welcome to AFL sessions looked a bit different to what everyone was used to. Yaseen Musa OAM has been the Multicultural Ambassador for the North Melbourne Football club since 2020. He is a former member of the Multicultural Australian Football League Committee, in which he won the Multicultural Community Ambassador of the Year Award back in 2015. Arriving in Melbourne over 25 years ago, the father of six was quick to recognise the need to bring hope and a sense of belonging to migrants. Working closely with The Huddle, Yasseen says that sport had played a key role in helping young people learn new skills, meet new people, and provide a new home. When new families arrive in Melbourne, we need to give them hope and we need to give them a place where they can feel safe which is what our community does. - Yasseen Musa OAM Musa OAM played a pivotal role in aiding more than 3,000 residents of Melbourne’s public housing towers, who found themselves suddenly in lockdown due to COVID-19. Delivering culturally sensitive food and medicine and aiding nurses, police and government bodies in communicating with local residents, he worked tirelessly to ensure each and every community member was receiving the right care. The Huddle’s CEO Cameron McLeod said: “Fred, Gary and Yasseen are all outstanding role models who epitomize the ‘Shinboner Spirit’. Their passion is unwavering as is their dedication to create rich cultural experiences for all Victorians to learn, grow and belong alongside other cultures. Their contributions to The Huddle, as volunteers and cultural leaders has been invaluable. Their Australia Day Honours is a testament to the impacts and benefits of multicultural communities’ contributions to Australia”. The North Melbourne Football Club and The Huddle would like to extend their congratulations to Fred, Gary and Yasseen for their awards, and acknowledge their selfless work in empowering all young people to continue to learn, grow and belong. Previous Next

How Howard became the driving force behind volleyball in the West < Back Coach Howard starts new club Steph Webb 18 Apr 2023 How Howard became the driving force behind volleyball in the West Huddle Up! is a ‘drop in’ style program that creates a safe and welcoming environment to increase participation in sport and recreation activities for young people aged 12-25. As a part of the Huddle Up! Senior program, The Huddle have been running different sports programs at Eagle Stadium since (2017). Young people can attend on Friday nights to play in a social round robin volleyball competition and practice their skills. There are very limited options for Wyndham residents to play volleyball in a competitive environment outside of the program. Based on this need in community, long-time Huddle participant Howard and his father Joe have started their own club, Melbourne Volleyball Club. Howard capitalized on both a need in the community, and the large attendance numbers at Huddle Up! at Eagle Stadium (380 registrations in 2022), and after much consultation with young people in the area, hatched the plan to start Melbourne Volleyball Club. Since I had migrated to Australia, the area in which I live doesn't locally offer any sports aside from conventional sports such as footy, cricket, and football. Though I will soon grow out childhood and progress to adulthood, [my dad and I] still aspire to provide kids in a similar situation with the opportunities that I had lacked. - Howard Howard is 15 and has participated in Huddle Up! Senior at Eagle Stadium since May 2021. He has also been involved with three Huddle Holidays volleyball tournaments and one basketball tournament. In 2022, Howard was also invited to Wyndham Council Sport Leadership Breakfast through The Huddle. Our aim and objective with MVC is to enrich the Western suburbs with a strong volleyball culture and to provide local players with the opportunities they would otherwise have to travel a long distance for. - Howard MVC train on a regular basis and enter volleyball competitions against other clubs all around Melbourne and Victoria. A number of these young people involved with MVC have been participating in Huddle Up! at Eagle Stadium for several years and have built great friendships with Howard (who they affectionately refer to as ‘Coach Howard’) and other likeminded young people through the program. At the time of writing, 17 young people have become the founding members of MVC and are taking the next steps of their individual volleyball pathways. Howard and his father hope to, in the future, expand their audience to include primary school aged children in the hopes that they can foster a volleyball culture and inspire new passionate players. …the sense of duty to improve the community and provide the children with more opportunities has inspired and continues to motivate me. The Huddle has greatly influenced the making of our club. Huddle Up! has brought to our attention that there is great interest and initiative for volleyball in the West of Melbourne. Howard gave a special shoutout to Huddle volunteer Eli, who has been a great help in the foundational stages of MVC. Howard stands out in ensuring everyone feels welcome and has a team to play in. He is well respected by the participants and is always seen giving coaching tips to other young people. Howard has always been a strong advocator for the Huddle Up! program and shares the voices and needs of other young people in the community. Interested in getting started with your own volleyball journey? Huddle Up! Senior at Eagle Stadium runs every Friday night from 4:30pm-6:15pm and 6:15pm-8pm on Court 12. Register via the link here . Melbourne Volleyball Club is actively recruiting new players. Register your expression of interest here . Previous Next

Discover how 200 young people owned the summer. < Back Beyond the Break: Huddle Holidays Igniting New Passions This Summer Xavier Smith 6 Feb 2026 Discover how 200 young people owned the summer. Over 200 young people from across Melbourne and Wyndham came together this summer to learn new skills, build friendships, and grow their confidence. Huddle Holidays Summer 2026 has officially wrapped up, leaving behind a trail of new experiences and strengthened community ties. Across seven vibrant activities, our Junior and Senior programs provided a safe, inclusive, and enriching space for young people to make the most of their school holidays. From the quiet concentration of a movie day to the high-energy courts of the Australian Open, the program was designed to foster social connection, health and wellbeing, and personal growth for every participant. Exploring and Creating: Junior Program (8–12 years old) Our Junior program was all about exploration and skill-building. Across four targeted activities, young people were encouraged to step out of their comfort zones and try something new. Melbourne Museum: Participants became explorers for a day, navigating the museum's vast galleries to uncover the wonders of history and science. This excursion sparked curiosity and gave juniors the chance to learn in an immersive, world-class environment. Softball Superclinic in Truganina: Delivered by our fantastic partners at Softball Victoria , this high-energy clinic focused on the fundamentals of the game. From picking up a bat for the first time to running the bases, participants built physical coordination and confidence on the pitch. Crafternoon: Our "Crafternoon" transformed the room into a hub of color and imagination. Juniors engaged in hands-on creative projects, allowing them to express themselves artistically while developing fine motor skills and sharing ideas with peers. Movie Day: After a busy summer of movement, our in-house Movie Day provided a much-needed space for relaxation. Young people enjoyed a shared cinematic experience in a welcoming environment, strengthening social bonds through low-pressure downtime. Independence and Teamwork: Senior Program (13–18 years old) The Senior program focused on empowering young people through independence and team-based challenges. By providing a supportive environment, the program helped participants build the confidence to tackle new physical and social hurdles. Stand-Up Paddle Boarding (SUP): Taking to the water offered a unique lesson in balance and resilience. Seniors worked together to navigate the waves, encouraging one another as they mastered the basics of SUP in a session that blended physical fitness with outdoor fun. The Australian Open: Through the support of the Australian Tennis Foundation , our seniors experienced the electric atmosphere of elite professional sport. Witnessing world-class athletes in action at a major tournament inspired many to see the possibilities of where dedication and practice can lead. Female-Only Volleyball Tournament: This tournament was more than just a competition; it was a space for young women to take the lead. Players demonstrated incredible teamwork and spirit, competing in a supportive environment that celebrated both athletic effort and community connection. A Community Where Everyone Belongs At the heart of Huddle Holidays is the desire to make every young person feel seen and valued. This summer, the feedback from our participants highlighted the inclusive culture that defines The Huddle. "I like the supportive and welcoming community of The Huddle the most. They try to make you feel included and comfortable in every event and no one feels excluded." — Program Participant Another participant noted that the program opened their eyes to new possibilities: "The program offers things I have never thought of doing and gives me new interests." Looking Ahead As we look back on a summer of growth and fun, we are reminded of the power of accessible, inclusive programming. We are proud to see our young people returning to school with new stories, new friends, and a greater sense of belonging. A huge thank you to our participants, families, staff, volunteers and partners, including the Department of Education, Community Bank Seddon, City of Melbourne, Wyndham City Council, The Y, HOKA and Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club, for making this program possible. We can’t wait to do it all again. We'll see you for the next Huddle Holidays during the Easter break! Previous Next

< Back Learning and growing through Game Changers Game Changers helped Tigist develop skills, connections, and community impact Jasper Menor Previous Next

< Back Oscar Becomes First Aussie to Win NBA Math Hoops Global Championship 10-year-old Oscar and his teammate The Rip City Roos bring home the trophy from New York. Previous Next

< Back North captain rewarded for outstanding community work North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos captain Emma Kearney has been awarded the 2022 Tom Hafey Variety Heart of Football Award North Media Previous Next

< Back YMCA’s 38th Youth Parliament initiative The Huddle saw a group of four young individuals participate in the Youth Parliament initiative. Previous Next

< Back Game Day VIP Event The Huddle unveil the new Game Day Program at this Grand Opening Previous Next

< Back A Game Changer in Wyndham Bella is Shaping Her Future Through Skills, Community, and Opportunity Emily Maiorana Previous Next