Inclusive Football is certainly high on the agenda within the City and County of Leicestershire and Rutland. Working within the Football Association’s National Plans for the development of Football for All, the commitment of the Leicestershire & Rutland Inclusive Football Partnership Charity, working together with the Leicestershire & Rutland County Football Association to provide Football for All, is clear to see.
Key partners, Leicester City Football Club, Leicestershire & Rutland Sport, Local Authorities, Schools, Colleges and the Specialist Teaching Services, and along with many disability organizations, all work together to ensure opportunities are developed through an appointed Football Development Officer (Disability), working alongside local key agencies and organisations, providing opportunities for Football for All, encompassing females, males, youngsters and adult players with a physical, sensory, learning or behavioural disability/impairment.
We are committed to enabling all players to play our National Game and providing opportunities for people who want to become involved in the many different areas of football. We strive to ensure all those involved reach their potential as a player, coach, referee, administrator or volunteer.
With many changes within the structure of local authorities and funding streams over the last few months, it is vital that the Partnership looks to gain sustainability for the future development and provision of football opportunity, competition and excellence to youngsters, adults, males and females within a wide range of impairments and disabilities.
As we move through the Olympic and Paralympic Year of 2012, which will be a massive year for sport in the United Kingdom, we are looking as part of the legacy of the games will be to help to raise the profile of disability football not only in Leicestershire and Rutland, but across the Midlands and Nationally.
Leicestershire and Rutland Inclusive Football Partnership Charity supported by the Leicestershire and Rutland County FA and Leicester City football in the Community Trust, aim to provide Football for players of all abilities, but there is also an opportunity for those gifted and talented players to represent their County, Region and also England in specific Football Association Disability Squads, such as Partially Sighted, B1 Blind, Cerebral Palsy, Deaf, Amputee, Learning Disability and Wheelchair Players, through Power-chair Football, so providing "Football Opportunities for All".
The Football Development Team is very keen to support Clubs who would like to become accessible to people with disabilities or those Clubs who would like to establish a team for players with a variety of disabilities.
There are numerous opportunities for keen footballers to train and play football regularly in a safe, fun, friendly and of course learning environment.
Inclusive (Disability) Football within Leicestershire and Rutland
For further information or to discuss any areas mentioned or indeed, if you or your business would like to become a supporter or business sponsor within any areas of provision of Inclusive (Disability) Football opportunities developed and supported by the Leicestershire and Rutland Inclusive Football Charity, please contact:
Wayne Gudgeon
Disability Football Development Officer
E: Wayne.Gudgeon@LeicestershireFA.com
T: 0116 284 4952
