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Level Playing Field

June 2015 E-Newsletter

Welcome to Level Playing Field

LPF is a registered Charity in England and Wales which acts as a campaigning and advisory organisation to its membership and other parties across all sports. www.levelplayingfield.org.uk

Wrexham to install state of the art viewing platform for wheelchair users

Wrexham Football Club Disabled Supporters Association (DSA) has announced that they are working in partnership with the club and Glyndwr University to deliver a state of the art viewing platform for wheelchair users at the Racecourse Ground.

So far over 12,000 has been raised for the platform which is due to be completed in time for the start of the 2015-16 season and will accommodate up to 10 wheelchair users, but this is just the start of ambitious plans the DSA have for the fully fan owned Conference side.

Steve Gilbert, vice chair of the DSA, said: 'Eventually we want to build enough viewing platforms so all wheelchairs supporters, including away fans, can keep dry, warm and yet still have an unrestricted view.'

Full story

Wrexham DSA were established as part of the Level Playing Field Working Together project.

Weeks of Action 2015 Round-up

This year's Weeks of Action campaign proved to be a huge success with a range of activities taking place around England and Wales celebrating the theme of ‘Access and Inclusion’.

Between 18th April and 3rd May, many clubs and disabled supporters associations marked this year’s campaign in style by showcasing the work that they do in partnership with their disabled supporters, as well as featuring LPF in matchday programmes and feature stories.

In addition to this, many organisations also backed this year’s Weeks of Action on social media, and our Thunderclap initiative alone reached almost 200,000 people. We also had some high profile supporters from the world of sport who got behind the campaign which contributed to making 2015 the most successful Weeks of Action to date.

Full story

Watch 3 short films as Luton Town mark Weeks of Action 2015

Luton Town FC celebrated Weeks of Action 2015 by putting together 3 great films showcasing the clubs commitment to access and inclusion.

The videos feature Nicky and Terry, both lifelong Hatters fans and regulars around the club and Zach, a massive football fan who works with the club's Community Trust. We also get to hear from Simon Fraser of Luton Town Disabled Supporters Association.

Watch the 3 films here

Premier League clubs face litigation over disabled fan access according to The Telegraph

Premier League clubs are facing the twin threat of losing their stadium safety licence and litigation over their “outrageous” failure to meet minimum guidelines for disabled fans.

A survey of Premier League clubs by the Telegraph showed that just three of the 20 stadiums currently reach recommended spaces for wheelchair users. The Football Task Force, of which the Premier League was a part, said in 1998 that these numbers should apply to all grounds and these guidelines were then also outlined in the 2003 Accessible Stadia guide for new stadiums.

Full story

Equality watchdog writes to Premier League and Manchester United

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is to write to Manchester United and football’s Premier League after Disability News Service (DNS) passed on concerns that disabled fans had had their mobility aids confiscated by stewards.

Staff at Manchester United's Old Trafford ground tried to stop several Arsenal fans - including one supporter in his 80s - from taking their seats because they were using walking sticks, which stewards claimed could be used as weapons.

Full story

Manchester United tell family with disabled son to watch Stockport instead

A lifelong Manchester United fan has taken his three sons, one of whom is disabled, to watch Stockport County after being told that it was not possible for his family to be seated together at Old Trafford.

Martin Emery believes that the access at United for wheelchair users is discriminatory and was furious to receive an email from the club’s disability liaison officer that said: “There are some clubs that would welcome you with open arms and possibly ask you to bring as many family members as possible, the downside is it wouldn’t be at Old Trafford, most probably Rochdale, Oldham or Stockport. They have the space and that’s the critical thing.”

Full Story

Blackpool Chairman Karl Oyston sanctioned for abusive text messages in reference to disabled people

Blackpool FC chairman, Karl Oyston, has been sanctioned for five breaches of aggravated misconduct after sending abusive and insulting text messages, with references to disability, to a Blackpool FC supporter in November last year.

Oyston had admitted the charges and an independent Regulatory Commission ordered he be suspended from all football and football activity for six weeks starting on 8 July 2015 up to and including 18 August. He has also been fined £40,000.

Full story

Fan Comments

News in Brief

Disabled football fans show red card to top-flight club websites

Bridge The Gap campaign highlights lack of fully accessible London Tube stations

England footballer's disabled daughter abused by internet trolls

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson speaks out about poor provisions for disabled fans at Premier League clubs

Charlton to deliver course in dealing with discrimination at spectator events

QPR awarded for Autism access

LPF Access Audits

LPF provides a professional programme of audits carried out by NRAC accredited Access Auditors with an increasing number of clubs and venue owners commissioning an LPF audit. Read more information on a LPF Access Audit and how to commission one here.

Just Giving

Make a Charity donation online to support Level Playing Field's works. Every donation (small and large) is very much appreciated.

Our Sponsors

LPF would like to thank the following Sponsors for their support:

The Football Foundation

Bevan Kidwell

The FA

Contact Us:

Address: Level Playing Field c/o CAFE, No.1 Olympic Way, Wembley, London, HA9 0NP

Helpline: 020 8621 2403

Email: info@levelplayingfield.org.uk

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