Deaf Friendly Football

Bury FC Community Trust & The Lancashire FA are delighted to be working with the National Deaf Children's Society in providing opportunities for deaf boys and girls to play football.

Bury FC Community Trust have signed up to be a partner club in the Deaf Friendly FC project. First Team manager Alan Knill(pictured to the right) signed the pledge stating that Bury FC is committed to providing opportunities for deaf children to play football.

The project was first developed In 2006 NDCS was awarded over £250,000 by the Football Foundation, Phonak UK Ltd and Sportsmatch to set up the Deaf Friendly Football Club Project.

The project is designed to give all deaf children the chance to play football in a safe, supportive and fun environment, either in mainstream football clubs or deaf football clubs.

This project will start with a bang by hosting a deaf football festival at the start of next season and all participants will then be invited to a Bury FC home game. The festival will then lead into a period of deaf friendly sessions which will be delivered by The Community Trust's coaches. A number of the trust's coaches are completing a number of courses prior to the festival including British Sign Language for Football and Coaching Deaf Footballers Course.

Ian Clarkson Football Development Officer for the National Deaf Children's Society has this to say about the project. "Football is a fantastic way of breaking down barriers for deaf children and young people. We are delighted that Bury has signed up as a partner to the project and is committed to giving deaf young people an equal opportunity to play football".

“We know there has been a severe lack of football opportunities available from grassroots to elite level for deaf children and young people in the past but this project is working to try and address that. Deafness makes it harder for children to communicate which can be very isolating. Many deaf children and young people find it difficult to participate in football because some clubs do not cater for their communication needs.”

Paul Weller, General Manager of Bury FC Community Trust said of the project. "We are delighted to have been selected by National Deaf Children's Society as a partner club to help further develop opportunities for deaf children in Bury but also throughout Lancashire".

For more information on the project keep checking the website or alternatively ring 0161 797 5423.