The Fulham FC Foundation co-ordinates a comprehensive Disability programme in conjunction with the Football Foundation.
The Disability programme has been running since 2003 supported by the Football Foundation and growing from strength to strength, working along side other Disabled organisations which include the Down’s Syndrome Association, ROYAD, Kingston Council and Special Olympics. The programme has expanded to offer sessions to those with moderate and severe learning difficulties, wheelchair users, visually impaired, deaf participants and those with ADHD.
Wheelchair Football
Football is a great sport as it caters for all disabilities. The Fulham FC Foundation run a number of wheelchair sessions, one of them being the Tadworth Children’s Trust, where we run weekly sessions with the young people teaching the parents and staff about wheelchair football, getting them involved in 3 v 3 games.
“The benefits are endless and the fun un measurable for everyone who takes part in the wheelchair football session, that takes place at Tadworth Children’s Trust run by the coaches at Fulham FC Foundation.
The coaches who attend the session have a terrific understanding of the young people’s incapability, it’s a great afternoon had by all. Thanks to all at the Fulham FC Foundation.” (Rosemary Glithero Tadworth Children’s Trust)
Down's Syndrome Football
The Fulham FC Foundation along with the Down's Syndrome Association has joined forces to set up the first Down's Syndrome Football team in the country.
Fifteen young people with Down’s syndrome attended weekly sessions learning the skills involved in football.
The pilot has been so successful that the PFA have backed the program, promoting it to other football in the community schemes. The players have been given a unique opportunity to be ball boys, and join in with the half time proceedings.
“It gives me great pleasure to be working with the Fulham FC Foundation programme. This new 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.
Visually Impaired Football
Every Third Sunday of the month at Raynes Park High 2.00 - 3.30pm our fully qualified coaches run a session for Visually Impaired people between the age of 7 – 17 years. The young people learn to kick and play football with different types of footballs that cater to their specific disability which have rice inside them or futsal ball which does not bounce.
School Sessions
Currently Fulham FC Foundation operates in a number of Special Needs Schools in Fulham, Merton, Mitcham, Kingston and Epsom, Lambeth, Hammersmith and Fulham reaching out to an average of 220 students per week.
The school program teaches the students team work, skills and tactics in our after school and curriculum programs within a fun environment taught by our qualified coaches.
The students benefit a tremendous amount as the work we do is predominantly with autistic children and to see them discover a world of sport and football, the students grow in confidence discovering how to kick a football and pass the ball amongst themselves.
“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
The Fulham FC Foundation operates and is involved in a number of Adult Learning teams in Kingston and Hammersmith and Fulham. Kingston Council and Fulham FC Foundation run a session on a Wednesday Night at Tolworth Recreation Centre for young adults 16 + it is becoming a very popular session as the footballers play competitive games amongst each other.
“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 coordinator Kingston Council
The session in the Hammersmith and Fulham Borough has been a long and very successful partnership with Special Olympics which is a world wide charity multi –sports organisation for young people 8 – adults 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 Heart Lane Ground.
Further Education Football
A new initiative that has begun in 2006 under the Disability banner is Further Education Football. Merton College and Kingston College have joined forces with Fulham FC Foundation and set up a Football teams for students involved in their Special Education Unit. This particular scheme has created a sense of unity amongst the students as the students feel part of a team and very proud to represent their college, developing their skills and awareness of how an eleven a side game is played.
Day Care Centre Football
A number of Adult Day Care Centres in the Kingston Borough have joined the Fulham FC Foundation, inviting coaches along to the day care centres and running wheelchair football sessions for the clients, which involves teaching the clients how to move around the room with a “size 9” football, teaching accuracy and passing the ball amongst the wheelchair participants.
Deaf Football
Fulham FC has a very strong affiliation with the deaf community . The club have a men’s 1st deaf team, a men’s reserve team and a women’s deaf squad who compete in the Surrey / London hearing leagues. The men’s 1st Deaf Squad have had incredible success, winning the British Deaf Cup in 2005 -2006 and are looking in strong contentions to win it again in 2006 -2007. For further information about the Fulham FC Deaf Football set up link to www.fulhamdfc.com|.
F.A Centre of Excellence
This year the Fulham FC Foundations Disability coaching centre has been given a license by the FA and Surrey FA to be a Centre of Excellence for Under 16 boys with Learning Difficulties and Hearing Difficulties.
They will represent Fulham FC in tournaments and friendly matches. This particular centre is designed for footballers who show potential talent, to develop thru the player pathway, to the Fulham Deaf Squad leading to the GB Deaf team.
Members involved in the Learning Squad may one day play in the under 17’s Futsal Squad representing England. Training occurs every Sunday with trials happening in September and February. Training takes place within the confines of the Fulham FC training ground.
“Fulham FC Foundation provides an excellent opportunity for players with disabilities to progress to their potential. We are really pleased to be working in partnership with Fulham FC Foundation to provide a better footballing future for Surrey’s impaired players.”(Jason Kilby Surrey FA –County Development Manager.)
Holiday Sessions
The Fulham FC Foundation run an extensive disability holiday program which cater to all ages, teaching children as young as 4 years old. The holiday courses teach the children a range of gross motor skilled activities and football orientated games, such as striking the ball, passing, dribbling. The holiday courses run during the summer and half term holidays excluding Christmas.
For more information about the Fulham FC Foundation Disability Programme please contact Susi Williams on 0208 336 7542 or email swilliams@fulhamfc.com|.