COMMUNITY TRUST SCOOPS ANOTHER AWARD

Dundee United Community Trust is delighted to announce it has been selected as the “Best Para Football Project in the East Region” as part of the 2020 Scottish Football Association Grassroots Awards.

This award recognises the impact of the Dundee United Para-Football Club project which provides opportunities for children, young people and adults with a disability to take part in sport and physical activity with their peers.  Launched in February 2019, there are now 83 members with exciting plans for the coming weeks and months. 

Jamie Kirk, Chief Executive for the Trust commented: 

“We identified a significant lack of opportunities for local people with a disability to take part in sport and physical activity when we set our current strategy and this award is a strong indication that we are starting to meet those needs.  I’m really grateful for the continued support received from the Scottish FA, it, it means a lot.  I’m also so proud of everyone involved in the Para-Football Club.  It’s a real team effort and Paul, Connor and the team have worked really hard to set up the various sessions.  They deserve a lot of credit for that, as do the players who continue to push boundaries to take part in the sport we all love.  The support of all of the parents and guardians is also really appreciated.  We’ve received so much support and encouragement in what we’ve tried to set up and are committed to continuing to break down barriers.” 

Paul Wilson, Head of Community Development added: 

“We are extremely thankful to each of our 17 partners who have all been pivotal in helping make Dundee United Para-Football Club what it is today: an excellent project that provides opportunities for children, youths and adults living with mental ill-health or a learning, physical or sensory disability to take part in sport and physical activity.  The recent impact report we published highlights how crucial projects like Dundee United Para-Football Club are in tackling inequalities and we are fully committed to continually developing Dundee United Para-Football Club to ensure even more people living with a disability can access similar opportunities.” 

Dundee United Para-Football Club already provides weekly sessions for children with a physical disability, children with a learning disability and adults with a mental ill health diagnosis as well as an innovative partnership with Tayside Dynamos to provide a pathway to powerchair football.  A key achievement for DUPFC so far has been the blossoming partnership with Kingspark School and having added weekly lunchtime clubs and after-school sessions (a first for the school) we are looking forward to achieving even more in the coming months, with some exciting news coming soon.

The Community Trust will now go into the pot for National recognition once again, having secured the prestigious “Best Professional Club in the Community Award” and “Best Football For All Project” in the East Region in 2019.  For more information on our Para-Football Club please contact connor.moyes@dundeeunitedct.co.uk.