We need your help in establishing more opportunities for disability football in Hertfordshire

The Pledge Project is an initiative designed to both raise awareness of the existing provisions in disability football across Hertfordshire and also to delevop these further

Disability provision in Hertfordshire is growing fast, with over 40 affiliated teams, inclusive youth and adult leagues and a number of recreational centres providing people with disabilities the opportunity to play football at a range of levels. We are proud to have such a range of provision available in our county, but there is still far greater demand. We need your help in establishing more opportunities to ensure that every player with a disability that wants to play can play!

Despite the incredible efforts from a number of clubs and groups across Hertfordshire to raise the profile of disability football, we realise that many people are still in the dark about the fantastic opportunities on offer for individuals with disabilities. With your help we can raise awareness and spread the word much further.

We also realise that the range of disabilities present in communities across the county is vast and not everyone may feel comfortable participating in the provisions currently available to them. You could help us provide the right opportunity for every person with a disability in Hertfordshire.

Who can support The Pledge Project?

Hertfordshire FA invites all of our grassroots Charter Standard clubs, along with all educational institutions in the county to sign up for The Pledge Project and showcase their commitment to disability football. We are especially keen to engage those with clubs and educational institutions that do not currently deliver disability provisions in order to broaden our reach as much as possible.

How can we be part of The Pledge Project?

Pledges do not have to cost a lot of money, nor do they have to take up a lot of time; clubs and educational institutions can tailor the pledge to meet their capacities and ambitions, and continue to develop this over time should they wish.

The pledge is loosely divided into 3 categories to give signatories an idea of what their commitment would involve.

Commitments

Here are examples of the type of commitments that you could include in your pledge:

Bronze: Raising Awareness

- Display the Hertfordshire Disability Club directory in your club house
- Promote the Hertfordshire Disability Club directory on your website/social media
- Follow Hertfordshire inclusive leagues and promote their activity on social media
- Audit players within your club to identify those with a disability that you can support
- Promote the Disability Talent Pathway in your club house

Silver: Inclusive Opportunities

- Put a coach through the Coaching for Disabled Footballers course
- Provide coaching opportunities for people with disabilities
- Host a disability-specific CPD event at your club
- Host a disability festival
- Send a member of staff from the club to volunteer at a disability league event
- Deliver an impairment-specific or adapted football taster session at your club

Gold: Disability-Specific Opportunities

- Apply to host a disability recreational centre at your club
- Establish a youth or adult pan disability team at your club
- Establish an impairment-specific disability team at your club
- Design a facilities action plan for players & spectators with disabilities at your club
- Include a youth disability player in the club youth forum
- Establish a club disability football development group

Incentives

Once clubs have completed the commitments laid out in their pledge, they will receive:

Bronze:

- A Pledge Project certificate to present in their club house
- Participation celebrated via Hertfordshire FA website and social media
- Invitations to disability CPD events

Silver:

- A Pledge Project certificate to present in their club house
- Participation celebrated via Hertfordshire FA website and social media
- Invitations to disability CPD events
- Access to Hive online coaching disability players resources

Gold:

- A Pledge Project certificate to present in their club house
- Participation celebrated via Hertfordshire FA website and social media
- Invitations to disability CPD events
- Access to Hive online coaching disability players resources
- Club support from an FA Coach Mentor

 For more information reagrding The Pledge Project and how you can be part of it, please get in touch. Or if you are ready to get started, you can sign up by following the link below.

SIGN UP TO THE PLEDGE PROJECT