Pontefract Collieries Football Club is celebrating after it received more than £7,000 from the Coalfields Community Investment Programme.

The £7,359 will be used to support football sessions for disabled children in Pontefract.  Working with young children between 10 – 18 years and with varying levels of disability, the money will pay for two coaches to run four, one-hour football sessions every week, across a thirty-week period. Participants will be split into different groups based on their ability and age.

In the bespoke sessions, those taking part will be taught a variety of football techniques and skills. The business hopes participants will become more confident, so that they can transfer the skills that they learn from the safe space at the club into other elements of their life. 

The skills learnt can also be transferred to the Pontefract Pirates Club Programme, which will provide a tailored transitional route for those who wish to continue participating in football after the sessions have finished.

Trevor Waddington, Trustee of Pontefract Collieries Football Club, comments: “Thanks to the funds we have received from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, we are able to offer differently abled young people the opportunity to participate in football where they can exercise and improve their health.

“The programme will give them access to essential social interactions whilst also providing them with the opportunity to build and develop new friendships with other people within their community.”

Stephen Abson, Development Manager (England) for the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, said: “The Pontefract Collieries Football Club delivers essential community support to resident’s across the district. These football sessions will support the health and wellbeing of young disabled people, whilst encouraging them to engage with other individuals which tackles social isolation.

“Working with organisations that focus primarily on skills and health, which are two of our main priorities as a charity, means that we can offer the support and guidance needed to help young people within coalfield communities to thrive.”

The Coalfields Community Investment Programme supports organisations and programmes of activity that meet with three key criteria; to address skills, employment or health and wellbeing through funding support and a free practical support service.

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