Preston North End will support Level Playing Field’s ‘Weeks of Action’ campaign as part of Saturday’s matchday against AFC Bournemouth.
Level Playing Field is a registered charity in England and Wales, and acts as a campaigning and advisory organisation to its membership and other parties across all sport, and is showcasing the positive work of clubs’ improving accessibility and inclusion as part of its 18th Weeks of Action campaign, from Saturday 26 February to Sunday 13 March.
This year’s theme of the Weeks of Action campaign is celebrating the return of fans after stadiums reopened following the suspension of live sport due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Preston North End is helping disabled supporters learn about Level Playing Field to understand what they do, what their aims are to improve accessibility and inclusion, and how they can assist disabled fans.
In support of the campaign, for the Bournemouth fixture, players will wear Level Playing Field warm-up t-shirts and our coaching staff will wear themed pin badges with other themed assets around the stadium.
PNECET are inviting participants from across its disability programmes to attend the Bournemouth fixture. The Trust’s disability provision includes the Every Player Counts programme, which is delivered in partnership with the EFL Trust.
Community Engagement Coordinator Alistair White said: “We are proud to be supporting Level Playing Field for this year’s Weeks of Action campaign with a focus on celebrating the importance of live sport for disabled sports fans.
“We’re looking forward to shining a light on the work of Level Playing Field by dedicating our AFC Bournemouth fixture to the Weeks of Action campaign and hope to share what we’re sure will be a fantastic occasion with some of our disability participants by inviting them to the game.”
Through Every Player Counts, the Trust delivers a weekly session at PlayFootball Preston on Friday for adults with PAN-disabilities, in partnership with the Sir Tom Finney Preston Soccer Centre.
Every Player Counts is also delivered during lesson time for pupils at Royal Cross Primary School; Lancashire’s school for deaf children.
We also deliver a regional disability Talent Hub programme to provide potential pathways for seven to 16-year-olds to progress onto the England Para Football Talent Pathway.
The Talent Hub programme runs with approximately one session per month, delivered on Saturdays at PlayFootball Preston – with sessions for seven to 11-year-olds from 10am until 11.30pm, and from 12 noon until 1.30pm for 12 to 16-year-olds.
Talent Hub sessions are open to those living with cerebral palsy or a hearing or visual impairment. Those wishing to attend can express their interest by emailing alistair.white@pne.com, with a list of all session dates available from pne.com/disabilitytalenthub.
The Trust also delivers eight free PL Kicks sessions in and around Preston every week for eight to 18-year-olds, all of which are inclusive of people with disabilities.
For more information about all of our disability provision, please email alistair.white@pne.com.
To become a Level Playing Field member, email ben@levelplayingfield.org.uk.