Football Used Towards Social Advancement and Learning

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Project Objectives: • Establish Futsal (5-a-side indoor football) Education Centres (Hubs) in the cross border region that will deliver Futsal & education to socially marginalised groups; • Establish pan disability (multi-disability groups playing on the one team) clubs in Ireland. Both the • The Hubs will each hold a year-long course for 30 participants and will use Futsal to engage target groups in further education. Established clubs will be engaged & assisted to offer pan disability football within the Hubs to develop an ethos of inclusivity. • Joint research will be conducted during the project in order to determine its impacts. It will highlight social and community changes and how the project will positively impact on communities. • A major part of the content is delivery of coaching sessions by participants within the community to targeted groups. • The project will facilitate the exchange of best practice and knowledge transfer amongst the Football Association of Ireland, the Welsh Football Trust, key stakeholders and local communities. Project Aims: • To conduct a feasibility study to assess the need for local football led Hubs; • To establish Hubs which would show best practice; develop an exchange programme; and promote and establish community forums; • To research the effectiveness of Futsal in disadvantaged areas as a tool towards social inclusion; • To integrate pan-disability football into mainstream football clubs; • To jointly manage the project and roll out effectively in both regions.

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