The Fulham FC Foundation co-ordinates a comprehensive disability programme in conjunction with the Premier League and Sport England.
The disability programme has been running since 2003 supported by both the Premier League and Sport England and is consistently growing in strength by working alongside national and regional partners including the Down’s Syndrome Association, Kingston Council, Youth Sports Trust, Surrey Football Association and the Special Olympics. Recent developments have seen us expand our work beyond the London Boroughs of Kingston, Merton and Hammersmith and Fulham into the North Surrey area.
Down's Syndrome Football
Fulham FC Foundation and the Down's Syndrome Association joined forces in 2006 to set up the first Down's Syndrome Football team in the country.
Fifteen young people with Down’s Syndrome regularly attend weekly sessions that, as a result of quality coaching, develop both skill and enjoyment through participation in sport.
The pilot has been so successful that the PFA have backed the programme, promoting it to other community schemes operated by other professional football clubs in the country.
“It gives me great pleasure to be working with the Fulham FC Foundation programme. This programme gives young people with Down’s Syndrome the opportunity to develop not only their football skills but the joy that team sports can bring.” Alexa Dizon – Down’s Syndrome Association .
School Sessions
Currently Fulham FC Foundation operates in a number of mainstream and special educational needs schools in Kingston, Merton, Hammersmith and Fulham and North Surrey.
The students benefit a tremendous amount from participation in the school program, which teaches young people about team work, skills and tactics within a fun environment.
It is important to note that Fulham FC Foundation is not exclusively concentrated on football. Sessions are delivered across a variety of sports including Tennis, Basketball, Athletics, Boccia as well as multi-sports sessions, which teach young people a multitude of skills which can be utilised across a wide range of different sports.
“Over the term more and more children have been really keen to join the football coaching sessions and now they look forward to their Friday morning football. We have seen a huge improvement in the skills across the wide range of ages and abilities.” Jenny Page – Eagle House School.
Adult Learning Difficulties Football
Fulham FC Foundation operates and is involved in a number of teams in Kingston and Hammersmith and Fulham for adults with learning difficulties. Kingston Council, in partnership with Fulham FC Foundation, run a very popular session on a Wednesday Night at Tolworth Recreation Centre for young adults 16+.
“There are more than 15 people with learning disabilities in Kingston who attend regular training sessions and the feedback from individuals is incredibly positive. There is a great atmosphere at the sessions, it is a great opportunity for people to develop their skills and meet socially.” Bethan Clarke - Disabilities Project Co-ordinator Kingston Council.
The session in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham is in partnership with Special Olympics which is a world wide multi-sports organisation for people aged 8 – 80 with a Learning Disability who compete regionally, nationally and internationally in over twenty seven sports. The Special Olympics Group have established two teams who compete in the STEPS League which is a learning disability six–a–side league adult football competition held at the White Hart Lane Ground.
FA Centre of Excellence
For the second consecutive year Fulham FC Foundation has been granted the license by the FA and Surrey FA to be the regional Centre of Excellence for both Under 14 and Under 17 age groups for boys with learning disabilities and sensory impairments. In past years Fulham FC Foundation have run separate teams at both age groups for young people with learning disabilities and sensory impairments, but this year sees the introduction of a pan-disability format, where everyone is part of the same training and playing squads.
Both the U14’s and U17’s will represent Fulham FC in six tournaments against other Centre of Excellences as well as participating in friendly matches. This particular centre is designed for footballers who show potential talent, to develop through the player pathway, to the Fulham Deaf Squad leading to the GB Deaf team.
Training takes place every week, on a Friday between 6.30-8.00pm at Raynes Park High School.
Holiday Sessions
Fulham FC Foundation runs a disability holiday program which caters for all ages, teaching children as young as four years old. The holiday courses teach the children a range of activities designed to enhance motor skills through sport and football orientated games. The holiday courses run during the summer and half term holidays excluding Christmas.
Active Autism
Active Autism is a weekly programme on a Saturday morning in Kingston reaching 30 people between six and 15 years of age. This is a new programme that we have recently developed (started in Oct 08) and has been a huge success. The programme is for young people with Autism and focuses on the mechanical aspects of sport, teaching participants about competition and team play. The emphasis on competition is reduced for the participants and more emphasis is put on their achievements.
We have evidence to suggest the programme has significantly improved the young peoples social skills, confidence, hand/eye co-ordination, health, concentration and self-esteem. The programme has been recognised by Kingston PCT as a best practice model and will soon to rolled out into 3 local schools
For more information about Fulham FC Foundation Disability Programme please contact Andrew Nippard on 020 8336 7542 or email anippard@fulhamfc.com| .