Sport Industry Group

08 Nov 2011

Winning a Sport Industry Award is proof of a year staying ahead of the competition, of innovating and excelling. The results of the hard work involved in that are perhaps never more satisfying to the winners than in The Community Programme Award, which rewards those projects focused on making a tangible difference to the communities they serve.

In 2011, just as in 2010, that prize went to Everton in the Community, for the Premier League club's programme to tackle the severe lack of sporting opportunities for disabled children. 'All the staff, volunteers and service users from Everton in the Community were very proud and honoured to win The Community Programme Award at the Sport Industry Awards for the second consecutive year with our outstanding disability football project,' says Steve Johnson, Everton in the Community Disability Programme Manager.

Anyone who was at the event will know that those aren't just empty words. 'It was a fantastic evening and when our name was announced as the winners the whole table erupted in celebration,' remembers Johnson. 'I think we were the noisiest winners! Our CEO, Dr Denise Barrett-Baxendale, lost her cool and was screeching down the phone with delight as Everton in the Community’s name was read out.'

Everton in the Community's winning work is based on Sport England research that found a gulf in the sporting opportunities available to disabled children compared to their non-disabled peers. Everton's response was to launch a 12-week programme of sessions in 56 schools throughout Merseyside, 20 weekly after-school clubs aimed at disabled children, and the development of 26 Everton disabled competitive teams at every age group, every major disability group and for both genders.

Not that the above should suggest Everton in the Community's work in the area is a new thing. 'The disability project has been developed for over 15 years here at Everton and makes a huge life-changing difference to the disabled people involved,' says Johnson. 'The programme is about more than just playing football, it offers support to disabled people facing everyday life issues and gives them the chance to socialise with people with similar disabilities.'

Indeed, 96.75% of the children involved in Everton in the Community's work showed improved self-confidence and self-esteem - making the project a worthy winner of a Sport Industry Award, of which Johnson concludes: 'The Award has given a huge boost and reward to the staff, volunteers and disabled people that participate in the continuing success of the project.'