During the month of January Level Playing Field (LPF) will be running news stories on its services and how they particularly impact disabled fans and clubs by enhancing facilities and promoting greater inclusion. You will hear directly from sports clubs and organisations across England and Wales and their fans who have received support from LPF. We start with our service, ‘Disability Inclusion and Etiquette Training’ (DIET)
Level Playing Field (LPF) has delivered its DIET to record numbers in 2017!
Since January 2017 LPF has delivered training to over 440 delegates! During this process we have worked with some of the finest sports clubs and organisation across England and Wales. The DIET delivery to date has worked with over 50 sporting clubs, organisations and venues across 4 sports (Football, Rugby Union, Cricket and Horse Racing).
The training looks at the key principles of an accessible venue and how having good access is a win-win situation for disabled fans and clubs/organisation alike. The sessions look at best practice and what legal requirements clubs have in providing ‘good’ access. Sessions typically last 3 hrs and are delivered by our experienced and passionate Access and Development team.
In a recent project with ‘Premiership Rugby’, LPF delivered DIET to 12 of its rugby clubs. The training was conducted at each of the club’s stadia and at PRL’s head office. Following the sessions, staff who took part marked an improvement in ‘Disability Inclusion and Etiquette’, in particular:
- 98% of attendees agreed that the training will make them more customer focused and inclusive.
- 96% of attendees now felt more confident if they came into contact with a disabled fan.
On the DIET area of work Owain Davies LPF Chief Executive said “Through our accredited training we can provide a full and rounded training experience that supports staff to provide a fantastic experience for disabled fans. We look at policy and procedure along with general language and etiquette to enhance an organisations offer (in access), this in turn supports more disabled fans in attending live sport events and equally supports organisations in diversifying its fan base and its funding streams.”
In August 2017 ‘Plymouth Argyle FC’ commissioned LPF to deliver its DIET Training to its staff. Steph Barker (Disability Liaison Officer) said “At the beginning of the 2017/18 season with changing roles and new appointments within the club the need for an update on the expectations of disabled supporters with a disability was identified.
From the first contact I had with the Level Playing Field organisation through to the planning, delivery and follow up of our Disability Awareness training session the whole process could not have been better or more enjoyable.
The training was offered to all of the different departments within the club. Plymouth Argyle attendees represented the main reception, the retail superstore, catering, hospitality, the ticket office and the maintenance department.
The feedback I have received from each individual has been very positive and as a result of the training session each person feels better equipped and more confident to deliver a service to our disabled supporters with empathy and efficiency.
As an example of how the training has helped me in my role, after listening to LPF’s case study about the experience of a family with a son with autism, I have been able to apply a similar approach and following familiarisation visits to an empty stadium we now have a very happy young supporter with autism who regularly attends with his family on a match day.”
Going forward LPF continues to promote and support accessibility at sports venues and sees DIET as one of the integral ways of achieving this.
For more information in how our D.I.E.T can support your club or organisation, please contact Level Playing Field direct on 020 8621 2403 or info@levelplayingfield.org.uk.
Happy New Year from the Level Playing Field team!
02.01.2018