The Panathlon Challenge is a charity that has been organising multi-sports events for young disabled people since 1999. Panathlon provides coaching funds, free equipment provision and multi-sport events for young people with severe learning difficulties and or physical impairments, and has grown from involving 2 London Boroughs in 1999, to 25 in 2009.
The Football Foundation grant aided the Panathlon Challenge £242,000 in 2008 in order to expand the numbers of London Boroughs involved and the numbers of young disabled people playing football. Over the course of the next three years, Panathlon Challenge will involve Football for young people with severe learning difficulties in 2009, wheelchair football in 2010 and football for blind VI young people in 2011. Additionally the Football Foundation will support the coaching and equipment provision of the other sports within the Panathlon Challenge through the same period.
Panathlon has appointed a football co-ordinator to oversee the coaching provision prior to the football tournaments begin which happens through the year. It is anticipated that an additional 250 young disabled footballers will be involved in 2009.
“The introduction of football to the Panathlon Challenge has been a fantastic new addition this year and has enabled us to select new participants for Panathlon, which previously weren’t involved in any other sport. The impetus of new football equipment and coaching monies has enabled many additional hours of football activity to happen within our School.” Bren Pointer, LB Brent.
For more information please contact
Ashley@panathlon.com or visit
www.panathlon.com
