Charity
Monday, 03 August 2009 06:08
Written by Ned Kelly

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Giving disabled kids the kick-start they deserve

Shady owners, spiraling wages, spoilt players and sex scandals: reading the news one would think the English Premier League not merely mirrored the moral decline of the western world but was responsible for it. But before condemning it completely, consider Everton FC and their ‘Everton in the Community’ program. A charitable organization, the Liverpool outfit have organized a partnership with the Shanghai Disabled Persons Federation and Tesco and for over a year have been delivering coaching sessions in disability schools across Shanghai.

“The program looks to build self esteem along with general football fundamentals,” explains Dawn Georgeson who, along with fellow coach Liam Redican and a translator, travels to Shanghai’s 19 disabled schools, as well as one on Chongming Island, for six-week cycles using basic games to teach the kids the fundementals of football. In the second and fifth week they test the kids for improvement in skills using exercises, and self-esteem using the Rosenburg Self-Esteem Test, “In terms of skills we see improvements in consistency,” said Dawn, “but probably the most important, and certainly the most gratifying thing is the self-esteem results: we see a 90 percent improvement rate, and none of the kid’s scores ever drop.”

Over the summer the trio take the program on tour, organizing Soccer Days in disabled schools around the country. They are assisted by Tesco staff and volunteers who they pass their coaching knowledge on to, with a view to leaving a legacy of after-school clubs in every place they visit. “People have been really keen to get involved, not just from Tesco but local universities as well,” says Liam. “As well as giving out goody bags to the kids we leave 15 footballs, cones and bibs in the hope the program will carry on after we leave.”

Another important aspect of the Soccer Days is that children of the Tesco Staff and volunteers are invited to participate. “It’s about breaking down boundaries, proving that disabled and non-disabled kids can play alongside each other and build relationships,” Dawn enthuses. “At the end of the day they are all just cheeky kids who want to have fun, yet all too often disabled kids are shut away.”

The whole scheme came about through the Liverpool-Shanghai Partnership (LSP) which was formed in 2006 to strengthen the ties between the two towns, who became International Sister Cities in back in 1999. The LSP then approached Everton FC, who are celebrated for being the ‘community club’. And their international ambitions aren’t limited to China; the king of Ghana has extended an invitation to Everton in the Community to bring their program over there. All aboard for Accra!

 

Everton in the Community are always looking for volunteers and sponsorship. If you’re interesting in helping out, either football-wise or fiscally, email Dawn or Liam at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , give Dawn a call on 159 2192 0994 or check out www.evertonfc.com

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