Visual Impairment sessions begin with funding from the FA...
Back in September 2012 My Sight Nottingham, the Football Association (FA) and Notts County Football in the Community (FITC) got together to deliver a taster session for the Visually Impaired (VI), in order for members of the blind community to see what it would be like to learn to play football and if they would be interested in taking part in a longer project.
Progressing on from that session the FA is now funding a 10-week football course throughout Nottingham that FITC lead coach Dave Ellis will deliver to approximately 15 VI Participants, who have a variety of conditions and levels of sight, each session.
The New Year saw all FITC coaches attend a Coaching Blind Footballers Course to gain their FA qualification in VI coaching.
FITC is particularly proud of this, as Notts County are the first professional club in the East Midlands to receive this training.
This is a great achievement for FITC and the club in its development and progression into further community work.
The new programme is being delivered in partnership with My Sight Nottingham, who had this to say about the new programme and their work with the VI community:
“My Sight Nottinghamshire, formerly Nottinghamshire Royal Society for the Blind (NRSB), is the only charity dedicated exclusively to improving the lives of people living with sight loss in Nottinghamshire.
“We provide support services, leisure opportunities, information and advice to thousands of local visually impaired people and their families.
“The aim of the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics is to ‘Inspire a generation’.
"Here at My Sight Notts, we are creating our own legacy in partnership with Notts County Football in the Community and Notts Football Association.
“Players will get the opportunity to be part of Nottinghamshire Blind and Partially Sighted FC, build confidence, improve health and develop new friendships.”
If you are blind or visually impaired, or know someone who is, and would like to take part in our football training or would like to volunteer for My Sight Nottingham, you can get in touch with Faye Dale (leisure services officer) on 0115 970 6806 or by emailing fayed@mysightnotts.org.uk.
You can also follow them on twitter @mysightnotts