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21st November 2024
Dundee United Community Trust are delighted to share the first impact report for their Para-Football Club.
Since launching in February 2019, their Para-Football Club has been breaking down barriers for people with a disability to take part in sport and physical activity and there are now weekly sessions covering four main strands of activity:
- Learning disability
- Physical disability
- Mental health and well-being
- Sensory disability
David Dorward, Chairperson for the Trust, said:
“Dundee United Community Trust delivers a wide range of football and non-football community projects throughout Dundee and the surrounding area, but our Para-Football Club is probably our most rewarding project. The Club provides an opportunity for children as young as 7 at Kingspark Special School, through to adults as old as 77 in the Tayside Dynamos Powerchair Football Club to take part in sport and physical activity. The feedback our coaches receive from parents and the sheer enjoyment that they see participants having makes our extensive Para-Football Club programme an absolute diamond. Well done to everyone involved, we are proud of you all.”
Jamie Kirk, Chief Executive for Dundee United Community Trust (DUCT) added:
“When we were planning the priorities in our strategy it was clear that there was a need locally to grow the number of opportunities in sport and physical activity for people with a disability. That’s why we decided to launch the Dundee United Para-Football Club. I’m sure everyone will see from the report just how much of a difference this is making. Connor Moyes, with the support of Paul Wilson, has done a great job at building a fantastic programme that is valued so much by those who take part. We’re also lucky to have a number of supportive partners to help us continue to improve the lives of people with a disability in Dundee and beyond.”
Head of Community Development, Paul Wilson, echoed these comments:
“Dundee United Para-Football Club is an area of work everyone at Dundee United Community Trust is extremely proud of. Connor has been helped by his colleagues, who have all undertaken specialist training allowing them to confidently and expertly assist with coaching delivery, and by our partners who have provided us with an excellent level of support and assistance us in our journey so far. This impact report helps us show just how much of a difference Dundee United Para-Football Club has made to the lives of people in Dundee and the surrounding areas and I look forward to sharing the next steps of its journey with you.”
The impact report includes the views of participants, parents and partners as well as impressive growth statistics resulting from the project. In the past 12 months alone the Trust has delivered over 800 hours of coaching for within the Para-Football Club projects alone and across the various projects there have been just short of 5, 000 attendances.
Connor Moyes, who leads the project as Para-Sport Development Officer for the Trust reflected:
“I can honestly say it is one of the projects I am most proud to be part of. Every session makes a real difference to those in attendance and this impact report gives an insight into this. We already have exciting plans to continue to grow DUPFC to help support even more people with a disability and I can’t wait to share them with everyone in the coming months.”
It is widely acknowledged that people with a disability face real barriers to taking part in sport and physical activity and the Trust is determined to continue to play their part. As well as providing a specific programme of activity for people with a disability, they are also a Disability Confident Employer and inclusion is a thread that runs throughout our Charity. There are very ambitious plans for 2020/2021 and beyond for Dundee United Para-Football Club and the Trust is hopeful of announcing further updates soon. For any questions regarding any of our activity for people with a disability please get in touch with Connor Moyes at connor.moyes@dundeeunitedct.co.uk.
Click here to view the impact report.
