LPF aims to celebrate access and inclusion for disabled sports fans across England and Wales
Gillingham Football Club is pleased to support the 2017 Level Playing Field (LPF) Weeks of Action from Saturday, March 4 to Sunday, March 19 2017. This annual initiative, now in its 12th year, aims to celebrate access and inclusion for disabled sports fans across England and Wales.
Disabled people constitute the largest minority group at around 15% of the population, and this number is increasing year on year. Naturally, a large number of disabled people are football fans too, and we are pleased to take this opportunity to thank our own disabled fans for their continued loyalty and dedication to the Gills.
This ‘Weeks of Action’ campaign, the Gills are joining together with sports clubs, fans and organisations across England and Wales to celebrate the ‘Game Changers’ who make a difference for disabled football fans, and to promote a message of access and inclusion for all.
We want to shine a light on those who lead and pioneer change that improves access and inclusion, and in many cases changing the lives of disabled people.
For the Gills, the club prides itself on ensuring all fans have a first-class experience at MEMS Priestfield Stadium. The club has a range of facilities for disabled supporters, including 67 wheelchair spaces across our stands, radio headsets for any visually impaired fans, accessible amenities, and concessions to allow personal assistants in for support. You can find out more here.
As well as our match-day provision, the Gillingham Football Club Community Trust also provides the opportunity for disabled football fans to take part in the beautiful game themselves. Our Disability Development Centre has been developed with the Kent FA, and runs every Tuesday evening in term time at Strood Sports Centre. It is open to anyone aged 6 to adult, and provides a fun and accessible football skills session for all participants.
The Trust are committed to growing and developing the session, as well as our wider work with SEN schools, in order to really ‘level the playing field’ for all fans and players.
The Gills’ Weeks of Action will culminate in our Level Playing Field Match of Action against Peterborough on Saturday, March 25, where we’re looking forward to welcoming two very special mascots.
For more information about Level Playing Field (LPF) and this year’s Weeks of Action, please visit www.levelplayingfield.org.uk, email info@levelplayingfield.org.uk, or call 0208 621 2403.
Alternatively you may wish to send a message of support to @efl and @lpftweets on Twitter using the hashtag #GameChangers.
Look out for more updates on the #GameChangers at the Gills over the next few weeks!