Richard Luscombe Disability charity Level Playing Field are celebrating their 18th ‘Weeks of Action’ campaign from Saturday 26 February to Sunday 13 March, which aims to showcase the good work being done by clubs and organisations to improve accessibility and inclusion across all sports.
This year’s theme celebrates the return of fans after stadiums reopened after the suspension of live sport.
To support the campaign, the home Sky Bet League One game with Rotherham United on Saturday, 26 February has been chosen as the club’s dedicated fixture for the campaign.
We are also celebrating the disability sessions we deliver at the Trust. 50 tickets have been gifted to our disability participants and 10 students from Saltash Community College to come and watch the match at Home Park. The Saltash students will also have the honour of being flag-bearers.
10 people from Brook Green Centre for Learning, who are part of the All Move Mencap Programme, will also be attending the home Sky Bet League One game with AFC Wimbledon on Saturday, 8th March.
As part of the EFL Every Player Counts adults programme, and Junior Ability Counts, funded by BBC Children in Need, we provide courses and programmes for a wide range of disabilities. Through the project, we aim to improve accessibility, barriers to participation and provide fun, progressive and some competitive programmes for people with disabilities.
In 2021 we were awarded a grant from the Premier League, The FA, and Government’s Football Foundation to benefit our disability provision for local football players in Plymouth. This will enable us to deliver a variety of fun and inclusive football sessions, provide new equipment, coach education courses, and train volunteers and staff.
Trust Inclusion Officer Alice Young adds: “We have a proud history of delivering inclusive provisions to our communities and removing barriers to participation. We currently run Junior and Adult Ability Counts Sessions, The All Move project in partnership with Mencap, Special Educational Needs sessions in schools, Post 16 PE Sessions, wheelchair football sessions, Improving Lives Plymouth – Active For All for individuals with learning difficulties and long-term health conditions, and the Dove Project which provides adult learning disability football.
We look forward to adding to these and continuing our work to ensure everyone in our communities are included. We can’t wait to welcome the 50 participants we work so closely with, and the students from Saltash Community School to Home Park on Saturday.”
Who are ‘Level Playing Field’?
Level Playing Field are a sports charity that act as a campaigning and advisory organisation for disabled sports fans.
The charity supports disabled sports fans through the following channels:
Membership programme
As a user led organisation, Level Playing Field’s members are always at the heart of what they do. Their shared passion for sport and equality really drives them to influence long term change and improve the spectator experience for all disabled fans.
The Level Playing Field ‘fan’ membership is free to join, and includes the following benefits:
- Weekly ‘match day’ newsletter with general LPF updates.
- Quarterly ‘fan’ specific exclusive newsletter.
- Invites to take part in annual events such as Weeks of Action and regional/national forums.
- Official membership Certificate.
- It’s free to become a member.
Other benefits include:
- Access to independent, expert advice and guidance on access and inclusion issues.
- Opportunity to feedback on Access and Inclusion through LPF’s annual survey.
- Opportunity to network with other disabled fans, fan groups and disability/sports organisations.
To become a Level Playing Field member, click here or contact ben@levelplayingfield.org.uk.
Active Level Playing Field initiatives
Level Playing Field run a range of initiatives for disabled sports fans, working to improve the matchday experience.
Active Level Playing Field initiatives:
- The Level Playing Field podcast – A monthly podcast series with guests from across the sporting community.
- Have Your Say – We ask disabled fans for their feedback, whether it’s positive or negative, from their experience at live sports events
- Talking Sport – During the pandemic we launched the Talking Sport initiative, where fans could chat to a member of the team in a bid to battle loneliness. After great success we’ve continued the initiative and continue to welcome fans to get in touch!
To find out more about the above, contact liam@levelplayingfield.org.uk
Level Playing Field’s work
Level Playing Field work behind the scenes with clubs to help improve accessibility at sports venues to ensure disabled supporters can experience the best possible match day. Common areas of improvement are sensory rooms, accessible toilets, audio commentary, and accessible club shops and food concession stands that include drop-down counters.
Areas of improvement can be highlight by clubs through Level Playing Field services such as:
- Access Audits by NRAC (National Register of Access Consultants)
- Club staff training
- Expert advice and guidance
If you would like to keep updated with Level Playing Field’s work, follow them on social media.
Thank you for taking the time to read a bit about Level Playing Field!
