This December we are celebrating the 1 year anniversary of the BBFA Pledge Project.  So what has been achieved in the past 12 months?

To date 30 clubs and leagues have signed up to the Project and are helping to raise the awareness of disability football in their local community. Whilst all have pledged to share our Disability football Club Directory on websites, social media and in clubhouses a few clubs have also added additional pledges and below are some of the highlights:-

• 7 clubs have pledged to start a disability provision within their club. 
• 6 clubs have pledged to put a coach through the Coaching Disabled Footballers Course.
• 3 Clubs have offered facilities for Disability CPD workshops.
• 3 Club volunteers are acting as disability ambassadors within mainstream leagues.
• 2 clubs have added disability awareness sections in all coach/team meetings.
• All 30 clubs have helped raise the awareness of disability football in their local communities.

This month we welcome two new Pledge Clubs; Shinfield Rangers and Flackwell Heath Minors. Both clubs have pledged to share the BBFA Disability Club Directory with different additional pledges by each club. Shinfield Rangers have pledged to run a BOBiCats centre starting this April. 

Flackwell Heath Minors become our first pledge club to add a disability talent question on a club survey as we try to find hidden talent to hopefully go on and just the England Disability Talent Pathway. We thank both clubs for joining the project and look forward to working with both.

Our 30 Pledge Clubs, Leagues and Organisations are; Chalfont Saints, Radnage Raiders, St Edmunds FC, Winslow United, Mortonville JFC, Mursley United FC, MKBCYFL, Tattenhoe FC, Newport Pagnell Town, Thatcham Tornadoes, Tingewick FC, Golden Eagles FC, MKDDL, Reading Powerchair FC, Slough Town, TVFDL, Buckingham Athletic, Burnham FC, Partially Sighted Superstars, Holyport Memorial, George Green Juniors, Bracknell Cavaliers, Pinewood FC, CFP Newbury, Barton Rovers, Berkshire College of Agriculture, Ascot United, Delaford Colts, Shinfield Rangers and Flackwell Heath Minors.

Taking part in the Pledge Project is easy; clubs and leagues can make a pledge that suits the ambitions of the organisation. The pledge can be as big or small as the organisation 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 organisation and can require little time to complete but could have a big impact. In its simplest form an organisation 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 the local region might see this and lead to a player with a disability getting involved with a local disability club.

If your organisation is interested in learning more about The Pledge Project please visit the Pledge Project Webpage visiting our dedicated website page. The webpage has lots more information about the project with further examples of potential Pledges. 

We also have a one-page information sheet which is easy to print off and share with your community members and, along with a copy of the BBFA Disability Club Directory, is available to download at the bottom of this page.

If your organisation is interested in making a Pledge or Discussing Potential Pledge Ideas please contact Disability Football Development Officer Jonathan Coles by email Development@Berks-BucksFA.com or call 01235 558451 to find out more about what’s going on in your local area.