Deaf children and young people are invited to hone their football skills at a Sunderland Deaf Friendly Football Festival on Saturday 18 October 2008. The group will take part in coaching sessions and mini games organised by FA qualified coaches at the Crowtree Leisure Centre in Sunderland from 10.30am-3pm.
This free event for 6-16 year olds is organised by the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) and will be held in partnership with Sunderland AFC Foundation. Everyone is welcome to attend the festival, including parents and deaf people who are interested in becoming coaches. NDCS volunteers will provide full communication support and deaf coaches will also be on hand to help out.
The football festival is part of a ground-breaking NDCS project designed to make football more accessible to all deaf children. Hayley Jarvis, NDCS Sports and Leisure Activities Manager explains:
“We know there has been a severe lack of football opportunities available from grassroots to elite level for deaf children and young people in the UK in the past. Deafness makes it harder for children to communicate which can be very isolating. Many deaf children and young people find it difficult to participate in football because clubs are not set up to provide good communication.
The Deaf Friendly Football Club Project is revolutionising the sport at all levels for deaf children and young people. On 18 October, we look forward to showing deaf children and young people from Sunderland how the project can really benefit them too.”
The NDCS Deaf Friendly Football Project is being funded with the help of a £211,608 grant from the UK’s largest sports charity, the Football Foundation, which invests money from its partners – the Premier League, The Football Association, and the Government – into good causes. Additional funding has come from Phonak UK and Sportsmatch.
Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, adds:
“The Football Foundation’s groundbreaking partnership with NDCS and Sunderland AFC on display here today will open up opportunities for deaf children and young people in the area to enjoy our national game in a safe environment.
“The football festival is a fantastic way to showcase the opportunities we can offer deaf and hearing impaired players. We are excited about working with NDCS and the Football Foundation to give more deaf and hearing impaired players the chance to play football.”
Sunderland AFC Foundation have committed to the project and over the course of the next two years, with the support of NDCS, there will be regular coaching sessions for deaf footballers to attend, with the ultimate aim of setting up a Sunderland Deaf Youth Football Club.
Kevin Darke, Informal Educator – Disability Sports, Sunderland AFC Foundation explains:
“Sunderland AFC Foundation is extremely happy to have signed the Deaf Friendly Football Club Pledge. The festival will raise great awareness for all deaf children in the Sunderland area as to the football opportunities that are available through the Foundation. We hope to progress this partnership and establish a Sunderland Deaf Youth Football Club in the very near future.”
The Deaf Friendly Football Club Pledge will allow Sunderland AFC access to deaf awareness training, resources, equipment and support. So far 23 clubs have signed up to the pledge including premier league clubs Manchester United and Arsenal.
The project is also actively recruiting and training deaf adults to become qualified football coaches. This work is combined with a programme of Deaf Friendly Football Festivals, and the establishment of regular football opportunities, a national database of Deaf Friendly Football Clubs, tournaments and conferences to provide opportunities for deaf children and young people to participate in football at all levels.
You can book a place at the Sunderland Deaf Friendly Football Festival by emailing football@ndcs.org.uk. You can call 0121 234 9820, or visit our website at www.ndcs.org.uk/football for more information.
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