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Level Playing Field

April 2016 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

Weeks of Action Review

This year's Weeks of Action proved to be a great success with a wide variety of events, activities and promotions hosted throughout England and Wales to celebrate the campaign.

This year we were delighted that the Football League showed their support for the campaign and promoted Weeks of Action during their Johnstone's Paint Trophy final showpiece at Wembley:

The Football League celebrate Weeks of Action

Here are just a few highlights from the campaign:

Peterborough United celebrate Weeks of Action in style with guest appearance from Warwick Davis

Manchester United FC generously supporting the Level Playing Field Weeks of Action 2016

Bradford City celebrate Weeks of Action by unveiling 'Being a Bantam' exhibition

PNE celebrate Weeks of Action with new initiatives

Sheffield United support Weeks of Action with with on pitch activities at Bramall Lane

Jeff Newall - My matchday experience as a partially sighted fan

Mike Hughes - Through the eyes of a fan

Level Playing Field signs up to the Mental Health Charter for Sport & Recreation

Yeovil Town & Newport County celebrate Weeks of Action on World Autism Awareness day

A Day At The Football - by Theresa Gazard

For a more in-depth look at what took place during this years Weeks of Action, you can read more here.

Have your say! CAFE launches disabled fans survey 2016

The Centre for Access to Football in Europe (CAFE) are calling on disabled fans, their companions and advocates to take part in a disabled fans survey.

The CAFE Disabled Fans Survey 2016 aims to gain a better understanding of disabled supporters’ match-day experiences, the challenges still faced and the remaining barriers that are preventing all disabled football fans from attending live matches.

The survey is a great opportunity for disabled fans to have their say and to help determine the future course of action for CAFE in their works and to promote wider inclusion across the game. The deadline for responses is 10th May 2016.

Take part in the survey here

Leeds United director Edoardo Cellino fined and suspended for disability abuse

Leeds United director Edoardo Cellino has been fined and suspended for disability abuse after comments made on social media.

The charge, which Mr Cellino denied, was found proven following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing on Monday 18 April 2016.

Read more

House of Lords Select Committee on the Equality Act 2010 and Disability report

The House of Lords Select Committee on the Equality Act 2010 and Disability has published its report on 24th March 2016.

Joyce Cook OBE, LPF Chair said: "We welcome today's report and its recommendations for disabled people. In particular, we applaud the committee's call for a change in legislation which would ensure that sports stadia are finally truly inclusive and accessible to all. London 2012 showed disabled fans just what is possible with the right determination and commitment. We have waited too long for change. It is quite simply time for us to all come together and to put this injustice right - once and for all!".

Football League supporter of the year is young disabled fan, Oskar Pycroft

A Bristol City-obsessed eight-year-old - who led the team out onto the pitch after an operation to help him walk - has been named Football League supporter of the year.

Super-fan Oskar Pycroft, who has cerebral palsy, was handed the award at a star-studded ceremony.

Last year, fans of the club and rivals Bristol Rovers helped raise £57,000 to pay for Oskar's surgery.

Read more

Player wins disability discrimination case against Newcastle United over cancer treatment

The former Newcastle United midfielder Jonás Gutiérrez has won a disability discrimination claim against the club after being dropped as a result of his battle with testicular cancer.

Gutiérrez sued the Premier League club after managers told him he would no longer feature in the club’s future just two months after he had surgery.

Read more

Must read! This month we have hosted 3 blogs from Aston Villa fan website '7500 to Holte'

Read these 3 blogs from 7500 to Holte on the recent news of a new viewing platform for wheelchair users at Villa Park, meaning some season ticket holders will be relocated next season.

In complaining about disabled seating, some Villa fans have reached a new low

Aston Villa adding more disabled seating isn't just the right thing, it's a legal obligation

One man's struggle to support Aston Villa because of his physical disabilities

Working Together project: Newport AFC host inaugural Welsh Regional Forum

On 6th April 2016, Newport County AFC and Newport County AFC Disabled Supporters Association (DSA) hosted the first Welsh Regional Forum at Rodney Parade Stadium.

The event was organised by Level Playing Field Project Coordinator, Kieran Reynolds and Newport DSA’s Colin Faulkner. It is the second regional forum to be organised as part of the Level Playing Field Working Together project and was organised to coincide with the Level Playing Field Weeks of Action campaign.

Clive Gilbert writes for Disability Horizons on the importance of accessible and inclusive sports venues

Read more

News in Brief

Disability Horizons: We need to talk about disability hate crime

Richard Hill talks about the role of Luton Town DSA (Video)

Martin Emery wins Social Justice category at SMK Awards ceremony

Gillingham FC seeking members to form Disabled Supporters Association

Watford Football Club Enables Group Relaunched

Portsmouth DSA founder finalist for Fan of the Year award

Fan Comments

Crystal Palace

Hartlepool United

Crystal Palace

Watford

Exeter City

Everton

Arsenal

Everton

Follow us on Social Media

Are you following us on Social Media yet? Stay up to date with all the latest news and developments at Level Playing Field by following us on Social Media. We update these regularly with new content and is a great way to keep up to speed with all that is happening in the world of access and inclusion.

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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.