EFDN Members on International Day of Persons with Disabilities

EFDN Members on International Day of Persons with Disabilities

On Saturday the 3rd of December it was International Day of persons with Disabilities. EFDN and the members part of the network want to ensure that any person no matter their background, culture, disability, race or gender are involved in the beautiful game. Through different programmes such as Special Champions League and others EFDN tries to be as inclusive as possible. Here are some stories from our members on International Day of persons with disabilities.

Southampton:

Football fans from Saints Foundation’s, disability football programme, SaintsAbility experienced last night’s B team win in style, from one of St Mary’s hospitality boxes.

The group were welcomed to the ground for the experience, with some junior participants taking to the pitch as mascots for the match, to mark International Day of People with Disabilities (IDPWD).

The aim of IDPWD is to celebrate the achievements and contributions of people with disabilities, while also increasing public awareness, understanding and acceptance.

This year’s theme looks at how innovation can fuel inclusivity, something that strongly aligns with the club’s own values.

SaintsAbility, a programme run by the club’s charity Saints Foundation, breaks down barriers to support active and independent lives for people with disabilities in Southampton.

Blackburn Rovers:

“He gets stuck in; he gives everything a try and there is nothing that he doesn’t want to do”

Young Blackburn Rovers supporter, George, has just started in reception at our partner primary school, Avondale, in Darwen.

George has cerebral palsy, and he has difficulty manoeuvring himself around independently, but that doesn’t diffuse his enthusiasm to participate in the EYFS gymnastics sessions ran by Blackburn Rovers Community Trust at his school on a weekly basis.

The sessions focus on helping the children travel with both their hands and feet, with approximately 30 students aged 4-5 from Avondale participating each week.

George’s one-to-one, Zoe, said: “George has come on a lot, he gets stuck in and gives everything a try.

“When he first started his limbs were very tight and I do physio sessions with him daily. He wears splints, not for the PE sessions that Blackburn Rovers Community Trust or we provide, but his flexibility has come on. George’s balance is getting better, and he’s benefitted massively from all the sessions he has available to him.

“He has cerebral palsy, it’s his lower limbs so it predominantly affects his lower half.

“George is a massive Rovers fan and every time we come, he says ‘I love Blackburn Rovers’ so it’s great to connect the two and he knows the familiarity of the club so it’s great that he can do sessions.”

Each week, the sessions follow a different engaging theme to allow the children to use their imagination, and just recently, the session was focused on superheroes and animals.

The skills Blackburn Rovers Community Trust’s staff teach are balancing both on and off apparatus, jumping and landing safely, transferring weight from one limb to another and rolling. 

George is always looking to get involved with each activity put in front of him, and always has a huge smile on his face.

Sarah, SENCO lead at Avondale, said: “George is a resilient little boy who will give everything a go. He always has a smile on his face and we include him in everything we can. 

“He has physiotherapy sessions every day at school to ensure that his muscles are getting stretched, and we are trying to build that up. He is making progress.

“George loves football and he loves Blackburn Rovers. It is good he is encouraged to have a good at anything and he looks forward to the sessions Blackburn Rovers Community Trust run. 

George’s dad concluded by saying: “George loves to be active and never lets his disabilities hold him back. He’s a big Rovers fan and always tells the family how much he loves doing PE with Rovers.”