Deaf children and young people from across Lincolnshire are invited to hone their football skills at a Scunthorpe Deaf Friendly Football Festival on Monday 17 August 2009. 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 Scunthorpe United FC.
The group will take part in coaching sessions and mini games organised by FA qualified SUFC Trust coaches at the Scunthorpe United's ground, Doncaster Road, Scunthorpe. There are still places left, so book your place today by emailing events@ndcs.org.uk, or call 0121 234 9820.
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, and many find it difficult to participate in football because clubs are not set up to support their needs.
The Deaf Friendly Football Club Project is revolutionising the sport at all levels for deaf children and young people. On 17 August, we look forward to showing deaf children and young people from Scunthorpe 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.
Scunthorpe FC 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 Scunthorpe Deaf Youth Football Club. So far 45 clubs have signed up to be Deaf Friendly Football Clubs including premier league clubs Manchester United and Arsenal.
To book your place at the Scunthorpe Deaf Friendly Football Festival email events@ndcs.org.uk, call 0121 234 9820 or visit our website at www.ndcs.org.uk/football