Club supporting Level Playing Field Weeks of Action

The annual initiative, now in its 14th year, aims to celebrate access and inclusion for disabled sports fans across England and Wales.

This Saturday’s home match against Newcastle United will be dedicated to this year’s Weeks of Action, which take place from 2nd to 17th March.

Following feedback from the club’s equality focus group, the club recently introduced accessibility cards for supporters that may have a disability, medical condition or an access requirement on a matchday. The card enables supporters to easily identify themselves to matchday staff should they require assistance and ensures they are able to quickly access facilities without explanation.

The club is now working with the other Premier League clubs so AFC Bournemouth supporters can travel and use their accessibility cards at away matches.

For more information and the application form click here.

Disability etiquette cards with helpful information on language and behaviour have been developed internally at the club. These leaflets were initially intended for use in staff training and briefings, but after a positive conversation at an equality focus group meeting, are now available in the concourses for all supporters.

Last season, the club started offering matchday sensory packs to supporters, which include branded noise-cancelling headphones. The packs are designed to make matchdays more accessible, comfortable and enjoyable.

For more information and the application form.

Participants from AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust’s Ability Counts programme will be attending the match. The Ability Counts programme is supported by Cathedral City, which sees over 100 adults and children with physical and/or learning disabilities take part in weekly football activities.

For more information on the programme click here.

If any supporter has any questions or concerns regarding accessibility, please contact [email protected] or 01202 726311.

For more information about Level Playing Field (LPF) and this year’s Weeks of Action, please visit levelplayingfield.org.uk, email [email protected] or call 01923 545 370

Alternatively you may wish to send a message of support to @lpftweets using the hashtag #WeeksOfAction.