As part of Berks & Bucks FA’s ambition to increase the number of disabled playing football, we have joined forces with Leap, the Active Partnership for Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes, with a new role bringing together football clubs and sporting groups with organisations supporting disabled people. 

Over the next few months our new Disability and Inclusion Relationship Manager, David Haggart, will be working with colleagues from across Berks & Bucks FA:

• Supporting clubs looking to offer additional playing opportunities for disabled people
• Introducing football activity at groups that support disabled people.

Leap are currently seeking applications for funding from their Together Fund, which has been allocated a further £75,000 of funding by Sport England. The fund will support new activity in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes focussing on four key groups:

• Disabled people
• People with Long-Term Health Conditions
• People from Low Socio-Economic Groups
• People from ethnically and culturally diverse communities.

Grants of £500 to £5,000 are available, although most will be under £3,000. The deadline for expressions of interest is 25th February, with activities to be completed by the end of August.

This could pay for pitch or hall hire, coach fees, equipment, and training new coaches. Football clubs are eligible to apply in this round (with certain conditions) – particularly where there are new recreational opportunities.

Berks & Bucks FA and Leap are both keen to see collaboration with local organisations who support disabled people, as a way of building a sustainable way of recruiting players to sessions. We already see this working successfully with several clubs competing in BOBi League and taking part in recreational sessions.

How do we get involved?

You can find more information, including a link to the application form, at www.leapwithus.org.uk and if you have any questions, then you can contact David Haggart via email.