Berks & Bucks FA are excited to announce a new incentive scheme for our Pledge Project. Since launching the project earlier this year 26 grassroots teams and leagues have signed up and pledged to raise the awareness of disability football in their local communities. 

Regardless of the pledge size all these efforts to share our ‘Disability Club Directory’ on club websites, social media and in clubhouses have helped to increased both affiliated and recreational football provision in Berkshire & Buckinghamshire. Below you will find a small selection of photos from some our pledge clubs work that has taken place so far this year.

Our new incentive scheme is just a way for us to say a small thank you to clubs that have already completed their pledges and to new potential pledge clubs looking to get involved. Once all pledges have been accomplished we will send each club a minimum of £25 Discount Football Kit Voucher for helping to raise awareness of disability football by sharing our BBFA Disability Club Directory. Larger DFK vouchers are on offer for pledge that include starting a new disability playing provision.

We know clubs don’t sign up for this programme for incentives but the response from our mainstream grassroots teams has been amazing and we want to recognise these efforts. 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.

Reading FC helped us launch this scheme at the weekend with a half-time presentation during their game versus Hull City. Two of our newest Pledge Clubs; CFP Newbury and Berkshire College of Agriculture were invited down by the club for the launch. We are also delighted to announce a further two pledge clubs this September as Pinewood FC and Barton Rovers take the September total of four new clubs signing up.

There are three 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. 

This is exactly what Barton Rovers, Berkshire College of Agriculture, CFP Newbury and Pinewood FC have done. 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 who otherwise might not have known about the provision.

BBFA will support all four organisations with their Pledge commitment and thank the committees for signing up to the Pledge Project.

If your organisation is interested in learning more about The Pledge Project please visit the dedicated webpage. 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 download, print off and share with your community members as well as a copy of the BBFA Disability Club Directory which you will find attached to 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, via the details below.