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| Level Playing Field Enews - June 2011 | www.levelplayingfield.org.uk |
Welcome to the Level Playing Field monthly Newsletter!To join Level Playing Field contact us at: info@levelplayingfield.org.uk |
Level Playing Field AGM 2011
He had particular praise for Joyce Cook, LPF Chair and her team who, he said, have put in an “enormous amount of work on behalf of disabled supporters around the country” over the last year. The AGM then got formally underway with the election of Management Trustees – Janet Ireland (lifelong Sheffield United fan) was re-elected once again as Treasurer and Tony Taylor (Darlington Supporters Trust) was elected as Secretary, both for three year terms of office. Leigh Hutchins and Keith Graham were re-elected as Trustees for the coming year were and they were joined by Rex Burton (an MK Dons supporter), along with Ron Cassidy (Disability Liaison Officer at Oldham Athletic) and Christine Peacock (who works as the Accessibility and Safeguarding Officer at Blackburn Rovers). The accounts were approved and you can find this and the published annual report on the LPF website at: http://www.levelplayingfield.org.uk/Annual-Reports.aspx So that was the ‘necessary’ AGM stuff dealt with (and pretty quickly and efficiently as well), and we were then treated to an excellent presentation by Mark Bradley of ‘The Fan Experience Company’ explaining how they had acted as ‘mystery shoppers’ and reported on the match day experience for families! Mark went on to talk about the disabled fans mystery shoppers and the resultant Football League Seminars. This groundbreaking work is already leading to improvements and is demonstrating what we have always said - "good access = good business". Watch this space for more news on this topic. Finally, we had updates from Andrea Brown from The Football League and Funke Awoderu from The FA followed by a short Q & A session which also included LPF Vice Chair Gary Deards. Lord Richard Faulkner, another of our Vice Presidents, re-affirmed his commitment to LPF and confirmed that the All Party Parliamentary Football Group (APPFG) held the organisation in high regard. Joyce Cook paid special thanks to everyone that had contributed in the last year and closed by thanking Alan Keen MP and the APPFG for kindly hosting the LPF AGM at Westminster. So, there you have it. Wembley Stadium one year, the Houses of Parliament the following year……any suggestions for next year’s AGM venue?
European conference ‘Total Football, Total Access’ announces change of venue
“After careful consideration and in full consultation with all stakeholders we have jointly agreed that the National Stadium will not be fully operational and tested for a disability focused event in time for September 2011. Although we are disappointed not to be holding our inaugural event in Poland ahead of Euro 2012, we feel it is prudent not to add additional pressures to the build programme at such an important time for the stadium operations team.” “We are all delighted that Wembley has made itself available to us and we look forward to welcoming both disabled and non-disabled football fans from many European countries, sponsors, UEFA and our guest speakers to one of the finest stadiums in the world. We now not only look forward to a successful conference in September, but also to returning to the National Stadium in Poland as supporters for UEFA EURO 2012 to see what is sure to be another excellent and fully accessible European football stadium.” Attendance to ‘Total Football, Total Access’ is free of charge, and there is a limited number of travel and accommodation grants available. For further information and to register please contact conference@cafefootball.eu or +44 (0)20 3287 1619 For further information about CAFE please visit www.cafefootball.eu Director Walks Away From Football Conference Board
The Football Conference released a statement saying that it has long been a supporter (we say a great supporter) “of the charity which does so much for those less fortunate than most and among their aims they aid attendance at non league level matches”. Under normal circumstances, donations to the LPF from the Conference come directly from the Conference itself. But talk about going that extra mile, Andy decided a different approach was required on this occasion as he sought individual sponsorships form other members of the Board. Andy’s walk raised over £500 which will be winging its way to the LPF shortly. Andrew has served as one of the representatives for the Premier Division on the main Board of the Conference, through his role as a director of Altrincham FC, for a number of years, but at this years AGM had to reluctantly stand down due to his clubs' relegation into the Conference Gary Deards, Vice-Chair of Level Playing Field said "Well done Andrew and thank you for all your great support and fund raising". Time to Get Active Well, after that news from the Conference, perhaps we are all feeling a little more active (not). Fear not, a new initiative encouraging disabled people or people with a long term health condition to get active has been launched by Yoodo Sports. The process works by linking individuals with a volunteer buddy for company, encouragement and motivation. Anyone who has attended a Pain Management Programme, will know that physical activity has been proven time and time again to have numerous benefits. Not surprisingly, disabled people are less likely to engage in regular exercise (as the writer’s waistline can surely demonstrate); disabled people, however, have similar needs in terms of maintaining healthy hearts etc http://www.levelplayingfield.org.uk/news/Get-Active-with-Yoodo-Sports-.aspx Disability Hate Crimes Increase as Winterbourne View Closes
We are aware of a number of cases of verbal disability abuse at football matches and on fans forums with a new report ‘Hateful’ from Eastern European documenting a number of recent incidents in Europe. To find out more about the report or download a copy please visit our website: http://www.levelplayingfield.org.uk/news/Report-highlights-levels-of-racism-in-Europe.aspx If you experience or witness any discriminatory abuse (whether verbal or physical) please do report it – we can help you to do this in complete confidence – just pick up the phone or email us. It is the only way that we will eradicate this hateful behaviour. Take Action – With Just a Few Clicks of the Mouse There is no place in a civilised society for hate crime, yet disability hate crime appears to be increasing with more people feeling able to report incidents and many others recognising that this is unacceptable. The use of derogatory disability language is deeply offensive to many people and it is completely unacceptable wherever it is used. The following bigoted question appeared on a Internet Forum some time ago, describing the Chelsea goalkeeper as a ‘retard’: Let’s be clear, this is discriminatory language and disability abuse. It only took a few clicks to remove this deeply offensive question – however, the cached version remains accessible and was easily found! Nevertheless, at least there has been something positive done by the service provider who is to be commended for removing the comment to the best of its ability. It demonstrates how forums can be used to spread bigoted views or references. The message is clear – when you see something offensive, complain about it. The more this is done, the more people will take note of the hurt and offense that these unacceptable comments cause. Please do let us know if you come across offensive postings and try to alert the forum webmaster to the offensive comments. We can help you with this, just give us a call on 0845 230 6237 or email us info@levelplayingfield.org.uk. Sporting and government authorities and the equality NGOs are all of one voice on this matter and determined to eradicate discrimination in all its forms. They each have a complaints procedure and confidential helpline that you can call or email. You can also find more information on the EHRC website http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/. For more information about these services and helplines please visit our website http://www.levelplayingfield.org.uk/Disability-Guidance.aspx Manchester gets the Bird
Donations will go a long way to ensure the Lord Mayor's charity can continue its fantastic work. Manchester is a city very close to Chris’s heart and has given him some great personal and business opportunities. “I’m always looking for ways to put something back into our great city”. Chris, a vice president at Level Playing Field and The Bird Consultancy have been tremendous supporters of the LPF for many years and we congratulate Chris on this great achievement. Now the important bit, to make a donation, click on the following link: www.justgiving.com/chrisbird3 Leeds University to look at Air Travel for Disabled People Relax everyone, Leeds University is not setting up its ‘Blue Badge Air” (but there’s a thought to put in front of three dragons with a few quid to spare). No, Peter Kalóczkai is doing his Masters degree in Transport Planning and his dissertation is about Disabled Air Passenger’s Rights. He is looking to get as much personal experience built in to his dissertation – anyone who is disabled or has reduced mobility who has taken to the air will surely be able to come up with a lot for this work. Peter is taking a really close look at the impacts of EU Regulation 1107.2006/EC. How exciting, we hear you cry – well, actually, it is the EU regulation that deals with the rights of disabled or reduced mobility passengers so it is very relevant. Anyone with bad experiences of air travel after July 2008 can read more about this important work and complete the online questionnaire by following the links on our website: http://www.levelplayingfield.org.uk/news/Student-Study-on-Access-to-Air-Travel.aspx A Thank You You may recall in one of our previous Newsletters, we asked readers to help Alan Montgomery, who was doing some research. Well, he has successfully completed his work and tells us the different ways clubs go about things “was quite insightful, even in 2011”!
At least he hasn’t run round Liverpool three times, or climbed the Brecon Beacons – all this talk of fitness is getting too much! Your Online Shopping can help raise cash for Level Playing Field Don’t forget that our very own LPF online charity shop at http://www.buy.at/nads is a great way to beat the price rises and get bargains at the fantastic range of high street names on the site, including M&S, Littlewoods, Asda, Ebay, Play.com and hundreds of others. Whatever you need to buy, you can get it though our online charity shop at www.buy.at/nads. Just think, click, buy and wait for the delivery – far better than all that shop window nonsense. And just for good measure, if you do buy online through our online shop, we get some much needed cash to keep up with our campaigning work on your behalf. News in Brief 1. Reading Powerchair FC - Launch day Sunday 10th July. For more information please click here. 2. UEFA's Financial Fair Play Survey - for more information please click here. 3. Durham CCC setting up teams for disabled players - for more information please click here. 4. Tranmere Rovers FC set up a DSA - For more information please click here. 5. Disability boost after Watford FC win award - For more information please click here. 6. Talking of Westminster, an MP says the Disabled should work for less... For more information please click here. And Finally - Keep in Touch LPF takes your views very seriously and we can and will contact clubs and organisers to make sure that where there are problems, these can be resolved - where things have gone well, we'd also like to give the appropriate words of praise as well. Your views, more than any, are so important to us. There are a number of ways that you can get in touch with us and you can be assured that if you want us to treat something in confidence, we will respect that. You can email us at info@levelplayingfield.org.uk, telephone us on 0845 230 6237, or write to us at the following address: |
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So this was the chance for us all to feel lordly and enobled, if only for a few hours as the Level Playing Field AGM took place in a packed Jubilee room in the House of Lords. Lord Rosser, an LPF Vice President, welcomed the delegates with an appreciation of the work done by LPF (and he likes the name change too), but recognising that there was still much to do. “That”, he said “is why Level Playing Field is so vital”.
The organisers of the inaugural ‘Total Football, Total Access’ conference, CAFE (Centre for Access to Football in Europe), have today announced the need to change the location of their conference from the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland to Wembley Stadium in London, England.
Andrew Shaw has departed the Board of the Football Conference in dramatic fashion. While others enjoyed a round of golf at the Celtic Manor on Friday, Andrew, a Vice President of Level Playing Field, decided to don his walking boots and made his way along the disused Monmouthshire and Brecon canal on the outskirts of Newport, pounding out well over 15 miles to raise money for Level Playing Field.
Alan would like to thank everyone who offered their views and opinions so that he could complete this work. v2.jpg)
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