EFL TRUST: JUST COUNT ON US...
Disability programme relaunched
THE EFL Trust and Wembley National Stadium Trust (WNST) are celebrating the relaunch of ‘Every Player Counts’, a programme which enables disabled people to take part in football.
There are 10.9 million disabled people in England, accounting for 20 per cent of the total population. Seven out of ten disabled people want to be more active and psychological barriers play the biggest role in preventing people from taking part in sport.
A further £500,000 donation from WNST will create new opportunities as the disability football programme moves into its fourth successive year.
The EFL Trust and WNST have worked together successfully for the past three years to get more than 11,000 disabled people into football.
Expansion
Twenty-eight Football Club Community Organisations across the country offer the programme, which has been specifically developed for the needs of people in their local communities, including those with physical and learning impairments. At Portsmouth, there is a programme for junior amputees, at Colchester a Down’s Syndrome group meet to play and at QPR, people who are deaf or hearing impaired play at the club’s training ground.
Following the first three years, during which more people got involved in the programme than had been initially planned, further funding has been agreed between the parties which will allow the expansion of the programme.
Fittingly, the good news was announced on Tuesday, as part of the EFL Day of Disabilities.
EFL Trust director of operations Mike Evans said: “We are very proud of the first three successful years of the Every Player Counts programme.
Benefits
“As we move into the next two years, we are pleased to add funding from our own organisation’s charity reserves to expand the reach and opportunities within this programme.
“We look forward to hearing the many moving stories that we have become used to as the programme changes and improves the lives of its many participants.”
WNST chief executive Stewart Goshawk added: “Every Player Counts has been our flagship programme for the past three years.
“The range and quality of opportunities created for disabled people to play football has been so impressive, with participants coming back week after week.
“We know the positive impact that football can have to improve people’s quality of life, and through this programme we have seen countless examples.
That is why we are delighted to continue our support for a further two years, with an additional £500,000 to add to the £1m previously committed.”