Lets Get Inclusive
To celebrate International Day of People with Disabilities on Thursday 3rd December 2020, Middlesex FA and London FA, along with specialist disabled people’s organisations delivered 8 workshops aimed at growing and improving disability provision in the county.
8 1/2 hours of online workshops took place throughout the day which catered for a whole host of people to attend and learn. Here is a round up of the sessions, some initial feedback and more information to take home…
Let’s Get Involved
Attendees found out all the key information they needed about disability provision in the county. Including developing disability football sessions, getting involved in disability leagues, funding, workforce opportunities for disabled people and the talent pathway for disability football. Attendees were keen to hear about our new ‘We’re Inclusive’ Badge which aims to raise the profile of disability football across the whole football landscape which will be launching in 2021.
For more information about disability football in the county please contact Lauren at development@middlesexfa.com
Let’s Get Mental Health
Hanlie from Mind in Harrow provided attendees with the tools to look for signs of poor mental health and gave great strategies and techniques to manage some of those systems. One learner described the workshop as ‘the best mental health workshop I’ve done” and another “inspirational & very helpful”. Mind in Harrow deliver a range of courses relating to mental health bespoke to your organisation. For more information, contact Hanlie at H.Burger@mindinharrow.org.uk / https://www.mindinharrow.org.uk/training/book-training-for-your-group-or-organisation
Let’s Get Informed
Our inclusion panel made up of Steve Daley MBE, Richard (CP Sport), Valerie (UK Deaf Sport), Adam (Wheelchair Football Association), Louis (Sense & Southwark Stars FC), Alex (London Sport) and Connor (QPR) gave some really insightful conversations around disability sport and inclusion. Topics of conversation included barriers for participation, workforce representation and approaches to keep disabled people retained in sport.
More information about our panel, their organisation and their work;
Steve Daley – Former England Partially Sighted Captain
Richard, CP Sport – richard.kerr@cpsport.org https://www.cpsport.org/
Valerie, UK Deaf Sport - valerie.copenhagen@ukds.org.uk
Adam, WFA - adam.mcevoy@thewfa.org.uk
Louis, Sense / Southwark Stars - Louis.Wickett-Padgham@sense.org.uk
https://www.sense.org.uk/get-support/arts-sport-and-wellbeing/sense-sport/
Alex, London Sport - alex.gibbons@londonsport.org
Connor, QPR - connor.bagenal@qpr.co.uk
https://www.qpr.co.uk/community/about-us/
Let’s Get Disability Aware
Hugh from Disability Sports Coach gave learners a snapshot of what they could expect from their full Disability Awareness in Sport Course. Attendees left more knowledgeable about disability terminology, the landscape of disability sport and participation and how we can adapt sports to suit the needs of disabled people.
Disability Sports Coach run various workshops, face to face and online. More information can be found here (https://disabilitysportscoach.co.uk/training-workshops/ ) or email Hugh hugh@disabilitysportscoach.co.uk
Let’s Get Playing
Connor from QPR Community Trust got participants active with a football session they could do from the comfort of their own home. We saw some great football skills, great preparation for the restart of football training!
QPR have a range of inclusive sessions for disabled people to get involved in. For more information email Connor connor.bagenal@qpr.co.uk
Let’s Get Referee
Middlesex FA’s workforce development officer Daniel talked us through how referees can progress in the disability football landscape, from refereeing local disability leagues here in Middlesex all the way to the international stage, an option that isn’t always possible in mainstream football. In addition, Daniel ran through how we as a county fa can support disabled people to become refereeing and getting involved in the game.
For more information email Daniel at developemnt@middlesexfa.com
Let’s Get Coaching
For the penultimate workshop, coach development officers Paul (Middlesex FA), Neil (London FA) and Shannon (London FA) joined Steve Daley MBE and sports consultant Jon Whittingham to talk all things disability coaching. Ensuring that the coaching workforce has representation of disabled people was a hot topic throughout the day and showed the importance of ensuring disabled people have the right opportunities to develop in this area. One learner said “One of the best, most engaging, coach training sessions I ever did was led by a deaf gentleman...taught me a whole lot of new skills, teaching how to instruct sessions effectively without use of voice”
Our workshop hosts gave insight on how we support disabled people to get their coaching qualifications and some adaptations we could do.
More information about coaching qualifications can be found here (https://www.middlesexfa.com/coaches/development-and-courses) or email Paul at development@middlesexfa.com
Let’s Get New Talent
The last workshop of the day was led by Talent ID expert Jon, giving attendees the opportunity to learn how to spot talented players and getting them on their journey to becoming elite footballs. Players can be playing in disability or mainstream clubs or simply attend one of our England Talent Days where they will be advised on how they can progress their way through the talent pathway.
From more information about Talent ID contact Jon at jon@jwsportsconsultancy.co.uk or Lauren development@middlesexfa.com
If you attended any of the workshops it would be great to here your feedback. Just complete this short survey (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe8m7iieFul_fg6h2X388ZvvuhoTTkkE9MCUxYQ820IiNsV3A/viewform?usp=sf_link)
If you have any questions about disability football, please email development@middlesexfa.com
