Berks & Bucks FA would like to invite all our clubs to take part and become a Disability Pledge Club to lead the way in promoting Disability Football across the region.
Our biggest challenge is promoting the vast array of different Disability Football opportunities across Berkshire & Buckinghamshire. Too often we hear about youth players dropping out of football from mainstream clubs because of a disability. Did you know there are 54 Affiliated Disability Teams in our region? Did you know that the BOBi League that serves Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire is one of the largest Disability Football Leagues in England?
It’s time for this to change and we are asking All Grassroots Clubs to help us by pledging their support to promote disability football.
Taking part in the Pledge Project is easy; clubs can make a pledge that suits the ambitions of the club itself. The pledge can be as big or small as the club decides but all pledges, regardless of size, will contribute to raising awareness of Disability Football.
There are 3 areas we are asking clubs to support; Awareness, Coach Education and Playing Opportunities.
Pledges don’t have to cost anything to the club and can require little time to complete but could have a big impact. In its simplest form a club could pledge to display the BBFA Disability Football Club Directory in their clubhouse. We have these professionally printed and ready to send out to clubs. By promoting this Club Directory a Player, Parent or Coach from either your own club or opposition might see this and lead to a player with a disability getting involved with a local club.
Your support and commitment to disability football is vital and together we can make a difference. I look forward to working with you all. Jonathan Coles, Disability Football Development Officer, BBFA.
JOIN THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY TAKEN THE PLEDGE
BBFA is delighted to partner with a number of both grassroots clubs and leagues to deliver a wide range of Pledges. Below are all the clubs and league currently signed up to the Pledge Project. Would you like to join them?
Our current Pledge Clubs are; Chalfont Saints FC, Golden Eagles FC, Mortonville JFC, Mursley United FC, Newport Pagnell Town FC, Radnage Raiders FC, Reading Powerchair FC, Slough Town FC, St Edmunds FC, Tattenhoe FC, Thatcham Tornadoes FC, Tingewick FC and Winslow United Juniors FC.
We are also delighted to announce the following Youth Leagues as Disability Pledge Leagues; Milton Keynes and Border Counties Youth Football League, Milton Keynes District Development League and Thames Valley Football Development League.
TAKE THE PLEDGE
The Pledge Project is key in raising the awareness and profile of disability football. The Pledge Project aims to engage with Professional and Grassroots Clubs across Berks & Bucks. We especially want to hear from youth and adult clubs who currently have no disability football provision.
Below you will find a few examples of Pledge Cards from current Pledge Clubs. A pledge could be to increase a coach's knowledge of the disability game, better access for supporters, promotion of local sessions and many more different areas. Clubs can Pledge to one or to a number of different targets. BBFA can work with each club to set realistic Pledges, no matter there size.
Clubs are welcome to make their own suggestions that mirror the ambitions of their club. Below you will find a table of further suggestions that you could add to your Pledge Card. Please feel free to contact BBFA at any stage for support or ideas with developing your Clubs Pledge.
HOW TO MAKE A PLEDGE
1) As a club, decide on what your Pledge to Disability Football would like to be.
2) Contact Disability Football Development Officer, Jonathan Coles to discuss your Club’s Pledge. Once agreed, Jonathan will send your Club a Pledge Card to sign.
3) Once signed, the Pledge Card should be returned to Jonathan Coles at BBFA.
4) Upon receipt the Pledge Card will be shared on BBFA Social Media, the Club will be announced as a ‘Pledge Club’, receive positive media coverage and the Club will receive the BBFA Pledge Club Logo to proudly display on Club Website’s and Social Media. Once the Pledge is completed the club will receive an Official Certificate from the County FA. We do hope to offer additional incentives to our Pledge Clubs throughout the season.
5) Pledge Clubs will receive ongoing support from the County FA throughout the season to help clubs achieve their pledge by the end of the 2017/18 season.
