A football project which has given young power
wheelchair users from across southern Hampshire the opportunity to
play sport has been awarded the 2009 BBC Power of Sport Award,
supported by Sport England.
The Power Chair Football project, run by
Fareham Borough Council, provides specially-designed attachments
for the wheelchairs so that the youngsters who use them can play
football in a fun and safe environment. The attachments allow
participants to guide the giant footballs around the pitch,
intercept the ball and score goals.
The BBC Power of Sport award recognises real
projects that have made a difference in the community and the Power
Chair Football project is a leading example of this.
The sporting opportunities on offer through
the project have included after-school coaching sessions and
holiday programmes with qualified coaches. The project has been
running since January 2009 and is due to continue until January
2012. There are now sessions running in three areas each week -
Southampton, Eastleigh and Fareham. Future plans include developing
a county competition and hosting a power wheelchair club from
Milton Keynes at an event in Fareham in February 2010.
The project is supported by Sport Hampshire
& IOW and The Football Foundation, which have provided
specialist equipment for the wheelchairs and football
equipment.
Gregg Baxter, an eight year old wheelchair
user, has really benefited from the project. Greg attends a
mainstream junior school where he is the only wheelchair user. He
loves playing football in the playground with his friends however
finds it difficult when competing against able-bodied children.
His mother, Dawn, said:
“Gregg is always playing, talking and
watching football, it is the air that he breathes. Power Chair
football is a level playing arena for Gregg, competing and playing
with other chair users who do not see their mobility as an
impediment. He thrives in the ability to score goals, learn skills
and new rules. It increases his self esteem and confidence and he
talks non-stop on his return without any thought that he has been
doing anything different to what his mates at school have been
doing. He is a proud and confident boy who has taken on the
challenge of meeting new people and socialising head on – because
it is a sport that he loves and can do.”Collecting the BBC
Power of Sport Award, Martina Heath, Fareham Borough Council’s
Football Development Officer, said:
“I am so proud that our power wheelchair
project had received this accolade. It’s the result of the way in
which all partners have worked together to deliver for the local
community. The wheelchair attachments are making such a difference
to the people taking part. It’s like putting on a pair of football
boots and off you go.”
David Holdsworth, Controller BBC English
Regions, added: "All of our Power of Sport award winners are making
a real difference through sport to the lives of people in their
communities. Finding and telling these fantastic stories back
to our audiences across England are at the heart of what the BBC is
here to do, so we're delighted to be part of these awards."
Sport England is supporting the BBC Power of
Sport Award. Jennie Price, Sport England’s Chief Executive,
said:
“This award celebrates the power of sport to
improve lives and enrich local communities. The Power Chair
Football programme proves just what can be achieved when you have
great ideas backed by dedicated people.”
You can read a full profile of Power
Chair Football by going to their case
study page
For more information on the BBC Power of Sport
Awards, supported by Sport England, please visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/8296653.stm
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
The Power Chair Football
Project
- Porchester Community School provides facilities for the Power
Chair Football sessions
- AFC Porchester and the Hampshire FA have provided qualified
coaches for the programme and helped to create competitive
opportunities for these young players
- Funding has been provided by The Football Foundation and Sport
Hampshire & IOW to help pay for specialist equipment
- Go to: http://www.fareham.gov.uk/
Sport England
Sport England invests National Lottery and
Exchequer funding in organisations and projects that will grow and
sustain participation in grassroots sport and create opportunities
for people to excel at their chosen sport.
Sport England is committed to creating a
world-leading community sport system, and has set specific and
measurable targets to achieve by 2012/13:
- One million people doing more sport
- A 25% reduction in the number of 16- to 18-year-olds who drop
out of at least five key sports
- Improved talent development systems in at least 25 sports
- A measurable increase in people’s satisfaction with their
experience of sport
- A major contribution to the delivery of the five hour
sports offer for children and young people.