Cookies help our website to remember you and your preferences. For more information or to update your cookie settings, please go to our privacy policy.

Accept Decline
Skip to content.

The national charity and leading voice for disabled people in sport and activity

Menu. Open and close this menu with the ENTER key.

England Football launches Disability Training for Clubs

England Football is on a mission to improve football for disabled people, with an aim to create and sustain a culture across the game, where disabled people have access to all opportunities and feel they truly belong on and off the pitch.

Photo of disabled people smiling and laughing while playing football.

Disability Training for Clubs: Journey to Inclusion has been created to encourage more grassroots clubs to open their doors to disabled people, providing them with the opportunity to play and get involved with football in their local community.  

Watch video about Disability Training for Clubs

The new training is formed of two core elements: 

Disability Toolkit for Clubs 

The online toolkit has been developed with the support of Activity Alliance and takes the form of a simple disability inclusion health check for grassroots clubs by presenting a series of reflective questions shaped around six core pillars for clubs to consider. Working through the health check will help clubs understand their areas of strength as well as those that need development. 

It is filled with information, practical tips and resources all designed to help clubs to create an action plan which can be implemented to start or grow disability provision at their club.

Disability Training for Clubs

For those clubs that want to go one step further and take a deeper dive into the barriers disabled people face when accessing football and how to overcome them, or those who simply want some additional support in creating and implementing their action plan, there is also a calendar of workshops, hosted both locally and nationally, where the toolkit is brought to life through knowledgeable tutors. 

The training workshops also offer the opportunity for clubs to network with other likeminded clubs, as well as hear real life case studies of clubs that have successfully grown to become more inclusive. 

James Kendall, The FA’s Director of Football Development, said:

"Football is our national game. It has the power to bring people together, remove social barriers and be a force for good across all communities.

"That’s why we’ve teamed up with Activity Alliance to support grassroots clubs in growing disability provision, providing them with a toolkit and training opportunities to help clubs to become more inclusive of disabled people, both on-and off-pitch." 

Kat Southwell, Head of Programmes, Activity Alliance added:

"We’re exceptionally proud to have supported The FA in the development of this training. Just three in ten disabled people currently feel supported to join a local grassroots football club. Driven by the voices of disabled people and club members, this launch represents an important step in changing that picture and creating more inclusive and enjoyable environments for all. Inclusion is everyone’s responsibility. Play your part by signing up today!" 

Visit England Football's website to access the toolkit or find out more about the training workshops. 

The toolkit is available in three formats, including an online flipbook, downloadable PDF and as a fully accessible Word document.

Photo credit: England Football