Level Playing Field April 2012
Level Playing Field 2012 AGM Reminder
Level Playing Field is holding this year’s AGM at the Palace of Westminster in the House of Lords on 30th May from 3.00-5.00 pm. We will provide you with additional information in the coming weeks including details of key note speakers. To register for the AGM and inform us of any access requirements you may have please view below and click here on the RSVP form or email info@levelplaying.org.uk Please RSVP by 18th May 2012.
Level Playing Field Trustee Nominations
LPF are looking for dynamic individuals with the right skills, experience and knowledge to play a strategic role in the continued development of our projects and works to ensure true equality for disabled people who choose to follow sport. The application pack can be found here Select the Trustee Application pack. You must return your completed nominee application either by email or by post to arrive before 5pm on Wednesday 3rd May 2012. For help with completing this application or if you cannot access the application pack via the website please contact LPF on 0845 230 6237 or email info@levelplayingfield.org.uk
If you would like to speak to someone at Level Playing Field about applying to be a Trustee please contact us on info@levelplayingfield.org.uk or 0845 230 6237.
Janet Ireland’s fans award
 Sheffield United held a presentation for Janet Ireland of Sheffield United Disabled Supporters Club and a long serving Trustee and Treasurer of Level Playing Field, on the 17th March at Sheffield United’s game against Tranmere Rovers. Janet was recently nominated for the award for the outstanding work she has done over many years to support the disabled fans of Sheffield United. Her award was presented by LPF chair Joyce Cook OBE, Ambassador June Wratten and Advisor Rosie Perkins.
Joyce Said ‘Janet is our longest serving trustee and is an unsung hero at LPF. She is fully deserving of this honour and we are delighted to be here recognising the hard work Janet does with SUDS and LPF for both local and national disabled fans’
Centre for Access to Football in Europe Respect Inclusion
 Level Playing Field’s European partner the Centre for Access to Football in Europe (CAFE) is running the official UEFA EURO 2012 Respect Inclusion project - Football with No Limits - as part of their on-going works with UEFA. To help promote the Respect Inclusion project, CAFE have launched a European-wide competition to promote disability and access awareness amongst the football family and wider public. Competitors are invited to submit a photograph, video clip, short story, poem or song that reflects and celebrates inclusive design, accessibility and/or disability awareness.
Whether you are a football fan or not, they would be delighted to hear from you. CAFE are looking for all kinds of ideas, so be as creative as you can! It could be something personal to you, a good idea that you have seen or something that you have been told about.
The competition is open to everyone, submit as many pieces as you like here
The Competition is open until the end of the tournament on 1st of July 2012 and you have the chance to win a great prize such as an official UEFA EURO match ball signed by the UEFA President and legendary player, Michel Platini.
UFEA EURO 2012 Respect Inclusion
Ahead of UEFA EURO 2012 this summer, the website exchange jersey has been created as a part of UEFA’s RESPECT social responsibility programme.
The jersey exchange between players is a universally recognised symbol of respect. Through this simple act players show sportsmanship and acceptance for their opponents. The website allows for users to upload a photo of themselves and join with supporters from across Europe in promoting the message of RESPECT, exchanging virtual jerseys. Please help CAFE and it’s Respect Inclusion project to create the longest link by joining here
Level Playing Field’s sister charity the Centre for Access to Football in Europe (CAFE), are delivering the Respect Inclusion strand of the campaign, running their Respect Inclusion – Football with No Limits project. For more information on this, please visit here CAFE is the official tournament charity of UEFA EURO 2012.
FA Community Awards 2012
The Awards aim to recognise and reward people across the country who make a difference to grassroots football in their local community. Winners are awarded at a local, county and national level offering an opportunity for grassroots football heroes to be recognised. Nominations can be made at the FA website.
Middlesbrough Fan named ‘fan of the year’
A Boro supporter with a passion for supporting others has been crowned Championship Fan of the year. Paddy Cronesberry, founder of the Middlesbrough Disabled Supporters’ Association (MDSA), has been named the npower Fan of the Year for the Championship. He was recognised for his devotion to the club at the star-studded Football League Awards 2012. See here for more information.
Web Accessibility Equality and Human Rights Commission Course with Ability Net and RNIB’s Web Access Centre
The digital world presents a number of obstacles to disabled people. Under the Equality Act 2010, organisations have a legal obligation to their customers, both internally and externally, to ensure that all their IT channels and applications are accessible to disabled people who may use a variety of access devices and equipment.
The EHRC, AbilityNet and BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT have developed the only product of its kind in the UK - the Web Accessibility Essentials e-learning course. This 80 minute, cost effective, on-line course is designed to equip individuals and businesses interested in accessibility best practice with a fundamental understanding of digital inclusion. Order the courseware by calling: 0330 123 9194 or waesupport@hq.bcs.org.uk. Find out more at: www.bcs.org/wae
Alternatively contact RNIB’s Web Access Centre whose free online information will help you design and build accessible websites. RNIB have technical, design and editorial guidance, plus info on testing,standards, articles and links to useful resources. For more information on accessible website training visit RNIB or email RNIB at webaccess@rnib.org.uk or phone 020 7391 2178.
Challenge 200
On 16th April 2012, Paul Smith once again set out to raise money for Charity by completing his biggest challenge yet. Paul will self-propel his wheelchair, approximately 200 miles from Portland in Dorset, to the Emirates Stadium, London. The challenge will take 5 days and see him complete the equivalent of almost 8 marathons, 50 miles a day for the first 2 days and 30 miles a day for the last 3 days.
The money raised through his challenge will be used to help Save the Children with their fantastic work in over 120 countries worldwide including the UK. He will also be supporting 2 new projects ‘Families and Schools Together’ (FAST) programme, a range of education programmes in the UK and overseas to help the poorest children get a better start in life and give them the chance to grow and fulfil their potential. The FAST programme is an award winning, U.N endorsed programme. The second project is ‘Eat, Sleep, Learn, Play (ESLP). The ESLP initiative is a programme that assists children living in the most desperate need by providing household essentials like a child’s bed, a family cooker or educational books and toys.
If you would like to sponsor Paul for taking on this challenge you can do so either online here or via text to 70070. Just text the following code and amount - QEJA87 to 70070 e.g. QEJA87 £10 to 70070. From everyone at Level Playing Field we wish Paul the best of luck with his latest challenge.
New Fans Comments
LPF have recently received new fans comments from around the grounds including:
To leave your own comment and photo on a stadium you have visited go to our website www.levelplayingfield.org.uk and select the clubs tab and click on the relevant club. If you require any assistance or would like some more information please contact us via info@levelplayingfield.org.uk or on 0845 230 6237.
Latest News from around the Grounds
Nuneaton Town FC appoint Disabled Supporter Adviser
As part of this commitment Nuneaton have announced that Mick Bates has been appointed as Disabled Supporter Advisor to work with the club on a voluntary basis. For more information click here.
 Nuneaton Town’s accessible facilities and information for disabled supporters have also been added here
Charlton Athletic Improve Facilities for Blind and Partially Sighted Fans
Charlton Athletic Disabled Supporters Association (CADSA) have revamped their website. CADSA have also purchased 12 high quality headsets which can be used on matchdays, free of charge, to listen to live commentary. For more information click here.
Disabled Blades Fan to Return Home after ten Years
A disabled Sheffield United fan, Karl Darby, is returning home after 10 years, thanks to the kindness of Blades fans, players and the Disabled Supporters Club. For more information on Karl's story view here
Audio Descriptive Commentaries at CUFC
Since January 2012 CUFC have rolled out audio descriptive commentaries at there home games. For more information click here
Unified Football
Unified Football sees mixed teams of disabled and non-disabled footballers playing against each other in its third annual tournament held at MK Dons. For more information see here.
Belper Town Football Club- Inclusive Football sessions for young disabled people
All sessions are delivered by Charter Standard Club coaches who hold the relevant FA coaching, Emergency Aid and Child Protection qualifications and have been mentored by Derby County in the Community coaches as part of the Inclusive Club programme.For more information click here
Tottenham Hospur FC
Tottenham Hotspur FC, used the Level Playing Field Weeks of Action highlight the work they are doing with Unified Football. They invited players along to their Training Ground from Enfield Town Unified football squad to take part in a training session and mini tournament. The details of this were then broadcast on their big screens at the Easter Monday game against Norwich City FC.
News in Brief
Mark Cordock- A Tribute - Sadly Mark a loyal Grimsby Town supporter and member of the Grimsby Town Disabled Supporters Association passed away at the age of 44 after a short battle with bladder cancer. Mark will be remembered by all who knew him, a tribute can be found here. Level Playing Field's condolences go out to Mark’s family and friends.
Inspiration –Duo’s triple challenge to help increase access to disability sport for more information see here
The Fifth World Autism Day was celebrated on the 2nd April 2012 Many events took place all over the World and UK including the ‘Light It Up Blue’ campaign ran by Autism Speaks to promote the event, thousands of buildings across six continents were bathed in blue light to show their support for this very worthy cause. To find out more about Autism Speaks and the Light It Up Blue campaign, please visit http://www.autismspeaks.org/
The Seventh World Down Syndrome Day on the 21st March 2012 for more information and messages of support http://www.worlddownsyndromeday.org/
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.
Here 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:
LPF, The Meridian, 4 Copthall House, Station Square, Coventry, CV1 2FL.
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