SOUTH EAST POWERCHAIR FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Our primary focus is to provide people with high levels of physical disability with the opportunity to play powerchair football. This enables us to build and strengthen our community - those individuals and families affected by disability. The ....more

Our primary focus is to provide people with high levels of physical disability with the opportunity to play powerchair football. This enables us to build and strengthen our community - those individuals and families affected by disability. The League has grown from 8 teams to 14 teams and the total number of players attending has grown from 48 to 75. By players competing in this league, it gives them a social basis to see and meet other players from across the region. Friendships have developed and families have shared their experiences with each other, such as education, transportation, home adaptions, and care support. Football greatly supports mental health, across all formats of the game and powerchair football is no different, probably more so based on the levels of impairment our players have. As their conditions worsen and their physical capabilities reduce, football enables them to be free and be athletes for the time they are playing, which has a huge benefit on their mental health. We know that this period of time away from football, shielding and the severity of Covid-19 on people with underlying health conditions has resulted in worsening mental health. A survey conducted by Level Playing Field on disabled sports fans views of the pandemic showed over 60% of respondents stated that if they were unable to return to sport next season, they fear it would have a huge impact on their own personal wellbeing. So we know how important our activity is and how it positively supports mental and physical health.