Disability Football Ambassador and Mentors Recruited
As part of our strategy to increase representation and participation in grassroots football from under represented groups we are delighted to announce the recruitment of a Disability Football Ambassador and Disability Football Mentor.
The FA funded recruits are tasked with supporting the regions Clubs, Volunteers and Community Groups to help develop more opportunities for disabled people to access and enjoy football with each of them having specific remits to help achieve this.
Meet the new recruits:
Disability Football Ambassador - Damian Sharp
Damian’s primary responsibility is to help increase participation in disability football by helping provide more opportunities for people to play in our county by working with the games key stakeholders. Key to achieving this will be working with England Football accredited football clubs who need support with starting and establishing disability football provision at their club.
Damian has experience setting up a new disability football session in Howden which was supported by previous Disability Ambassador Paul Adamson. He is now tasked with using his experience and knowledge to help and support other clubs establish disability provision.
Damian said: “I am excited to get started in my new role and support other clubs in the county to begin their journey to becoming more inclusive”.
If you would like Damian to help you develop playing opportunities for disabled people at your club, then please get in touch:
Email: damians100@hotmail.co.uk
Disability Football Mentor - Josh Underwood
Josh's primary role is to engage with coaches in grassroots disability football and disabled coaches working in grassroots football, to establish more club based playing and coaching opportunities for disabled people.
This will drive sustainability of club provision for disabled people.
Josh joins us with a wealth of experience after working as a tutor for Case Training Services where he provides opportunities for adults with disabilities to gain employment and life skills.
Josh said: “I am excited about the opportunity to work with coaches, see their teams in action, and exchange ideas. The prospect of growing the disability game is highly motivating”.
If you would like to Josh to support you with your coaching then please get in touch:
Email: jonua7@hotmail.com
Phone: 07891919761
Participation Officer (Inclusion) Rebecca Bolton said “We are delighted that Damian and Josh have been deployed to our region to help increase opportunities for disabled people to play and coach football. They will prove to be an invaluable resource, and we encourage our member clubs and volunteers to contact them to find out what support is on offer.”
We are also offering club volunteers the opportunity to learn more about how make grassroots football clubs fully inclusive by teaming up with North Riding FA to deliver the Journey to Inclusion workshop. Click here to learn more details.