The Wheelchair Football Association Setting A Powerchair Football Club Setting A Powerchair Football Club – Examples of Good Practice

The Wheelchair Football Association Setting A Powerchair Football Club Introductions Anthony Nweke WFA Midlands Powerchair Football Development Officer Mobile:

The Wheelchair Football Association Setting A Powerchair Football Club What is Powerchair Football? Powerchair Football is a fast, dynamic sport that is designed for people who use electric or manual wheelchairs and caters for a wide range of impairments. Due to the sports unique nature it allows for people of all ages and both genders to participate together.

The Wheelchair Football Association Setting A Powerchair Football Club What is different from other Sports Clubs? Players? – All Clubs need Players Equipment? – This is all available through the WFA Venue? – An indoor Basketball court All other elements match the structure of all sports clubs (in this case Football and the 1000’s across the Country) There are 37 Powerchair Football Clubs already running within England

The Wheelchair Football Association Setting A Powerchair Football Club Starting point Is there a need in the area? What equipment/funding is required? What partners can we work with to make this happen??? – This is key to the long term success and sustainability of the Club. The WFA – Regional Development Officer County FA (Disability lead or Football Development Officer) County Sport Partnership Local Councils (Sport Development, Disability groups) Local Football Clubs (Professional, amateur, Coaches) Facilities – you need a place to run activity Disability Clubs or local 3 rd sector organisations Volunteers Parents and players – These are the people who will run the club Schools and colleges

The Wheelchair Football Association Setting A Powerchair Football Club Next Steps 1.Arrange a meeting of all identified partners 2.Ask for a commitment from each of them and task them to deliver! 3.Call first “Club meeting” Club Constitution Create Committee Chairperson - REQUIRED Treasurer - REQUIRED Secretary - REQUIRED Vice Chairperson Welfare Officer Player representative Fundraising Officer Manager Additional roles can be created Community Bank Account (2 signatures) The WFA has developed a “Club Starter Pack” with example documents to help with this process.

The Wheelchair Football Association Setting A Powerchair Football Club Additional Support and advice 1.The WFA (and Regional Development Officers) 2.County FA 3.County Sport Partnership 4.Local Council Sport Department 5.English Federation of Disability Sport 6.Other Powerchair Football clubs (list on WFA website) 7.Local Businesses 8.Wheelchair Dealer (WFA can find best one for your club) 9.Players, Parents, Carers etc (These are all a potential workforce for the Club) 10.Social Media (way to promote the club)

The Wheelchair Football Association Setting A Powerchair Football Club Potential Funding opportunities 1.Community Foundations (up to £5,000) 2.Local Council funding 3.County FA, County Sport Partnership schemes 4.Sport England Small Grants (up to £10,000 for a two year project) 5.Caudwell Children (supplies Sports Powerchairs for individuals) 6.Sponsorship (local businesses)

The Wheelchair Football Association Setting A Powerchair Football Club Nottinghamshire PFC Club started back in 2004 when the WFA was first forming. A committee of 3 (Sport Development Officer, player, ###) Started by hiring equipment from Newcastle for a One day festival. The Club now has 22 members Owns a van, trailer and 19 Powerchairs Has secured over £250,000 worth of investment Runs 2 sessions a week (Team & development) Has team playing in the National League Premiership division. Also supports a Nottingham Forest team and competes within regional events. It is amazing what can be achieved from small beginnings. This is one of the most secure and well-run sustainable in the Country.

The Wheelchair Football Association Setting A Powerchair Football Club East Staffordshire PFC First meeting held in September 2012 with 16 partner organisations represented. Venue secured at St George’s Park – the new home of English Football Funding secured for taster event and to purchase basic equipment Taster event delivered in November 2012 with support from Nottinghamshire PFC (equipment and coaches). 12 people attended. Weekly sessions now being run with players paying £20 per month. 10 people on a waiting list as the club work to secure more equipment. Linked to local Charter Standard Football Club. Sponsorship secured for new kit thanks to a local business. With the right partners on board to begin with, it was less than 3 months from the initial meeting until activity begun. The Club is looking to enter the league for the 2013/14 season.

The Wheelchair Football Association Setting A Powerchair Football Club Northamptonshire PFC Started by the County FA Disability Officer following an East Midlands School Games event. Saw a group of players and a gap in provision. Called a meeting of all the parents and local partners to discuss how to move it forward. Created the “Club” and group started to look for funding. Found a suitable venue and arranged a deal for storage and hire. Sourced funding to purchase equipment. Affiliated to the WFA and County FA. Started regular training session and now have 10 players. Successfully granted 5 Sports Chairs through Caudwell Children. Entered the 2012/13 National League Championship. The group was guided, supported and helped by the County FA Disability Officer at all points during this process, but all the work was done by the parents and volunteers.

The Wheelchair Football Association Setting A Powerchair Football Club My personal experiences: When I was setting up the Nottinghamshire Powerchair Football Club we started with a committee of 3 just to start to get the ball rolling. We began just writing letters to all different types of people and companies to let them know about what we were trying to do. Now the club has almost been going for 10 years the club has got a strong committee of 8 members. Most of them are parents and players. We have 22 players and everyone involved is part of an “extended family” within the club. Since we began we have received over £250,000 of funding.

The Wheelchair Football Association Setting A Powerchair Football Club Any questions?? For more information about Powerchair Football, please visit

The Wheelchair Football Association Partners WFA National Partners