The Falkirk Football Community Foundation is proud to announce that our Down’s Syndrome Football Group has been awarded the SFA National ‘Football for All Award’. This recognition celebrates our unwavering commitment to inclusivity and excellence in providing football opportunities for children with Down’s Syndrome.
Every Monday evening, the Falkirk Stadium comes alive with the enthusiasm and smiles of our participants. Fully funded by the UEFA Foundation for Children, these sessions focus not only on football skills but also on fostering social interaction, confidence, and physical fitness. The joy and dedication of the children are truly inspiring.
As one of the first football clubs in Scotland to offer dedicated sessions for children with Down’s Syndrome, our partnership with Down’s Syndrome Scotland has been pivotal. The sessions provide more than the obvious footballing benefits. Co-ordination and balance tasks are meticulously planned out each week, as well as tasks that improve the participants spatial awareness. Through the training provided by Down’s Syndrome Scotland,coaches were given the tools to create sessions which will specifically enhance activity for children with Down’s Syndrome. There is also a large emphasis on creating a sense of togetherness. Regular high fives, and handshakes are introduced during and after sessions to create a closeness within the group.
Implementing routine is important and because of this, the first ten minutes of every session is the same. This makes the kids feel instantly comfortable and switched on to the session. The introductory drill allows all kids to have a ball at their feet and allows them to choose their own dribbling distances depending on how they feel. It’s important to allow the children some autonomy in how much energy they want to expend. The sessions involve bright cones, bibs and footballs, as that makes it easier for the participants to map out the drills. We try use numbers and patterns withing drills to help improve maths and basic cognition.
While the sessions may seem to be about football, it’s so much more. We aim to create sessions that will enhance interpersonal skills, cognition skills, social skills, and of course provide physical exercise.
This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our coaches, volunteers, and families. Their collective effort has created a supportive and empowering environment that allows the children to thrive. We are immensely proud of the success of this programme and the positive impact it has had on our community.
With this recognition, we are more committed than ever to spreading awareness about Down’s Syndrome and inspiring other clubs to offer similar programmes. We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to enjoy and benefit from football, and we hope to provide more inclusive initiatives in the future.
As we celebrate this incredible achievement, we are already looking ahead to the future. Our goal is to continue expanding and improving our programme, reaching more children and families. We are grateful for the support of the UEFA Foundation for Children and Down’s Syndrome Scotland, and we look forward to many more successful sessions.
Derek Allison, CEO of Falkirk Foundation said “Amidst numerous outstanding projects in this category, we are honoured to receive the SFA National Award for Football for All. This recognition underscores the Foundation’s dedication to removing barriers to participation, ensuring everyone can experience the power of football. This is our second national award in three years, highlighting the significant impact the Foundation has on our community. We aim to be a charity that the Falkirk FC supporters can be proud of and share in our collective achievements.”
Congratulations to everyone involved in this wonderful group. Together, we are making a difference and setting a new standard for inclusive football programmes across the nation.
