Summary
The Project provides unique football sessions for Visually Impaired young people that are unable to take part in main stream sessions. It creates a positive social environment for both the young people and carers to have fun and/or take a break from their caring role.
What VI Football did
The Rangers Charity Foundation delivered 25 bi-weekly football sessions at Super Soccer Scotland street for VI young people aged 6-18 and their carers/parents. The sessions ran on a Sunday for 2 hours between 12-2pm - 1.5 hours of football and a half hour at the end of the session to allow some social time and interaction between everyone involved.
Both participants and their parents/carers through feedback gathered over the years have helped to create and adapt the format of the sessions, this ensures that we are always learning from the people involved and are able to best meet their needs. Sessions are split into individual learning, structured coaching, games and social time this allows everyone to be included in all aspects of the delivery regardless of level of sight or ability. The staff are trained and have years of experience working with the participants and other similar groups which ensure they are able to cope with the different levels of sight, age and ability of the participants.
A lot of disabilities are able to be accommodated in either mainstream or para football sessions, However with the complexity of visual impairment, young people with this condition are very rarely able to take part in these sort of activity.
We try to offer a range of different respite activities for our parents/carers but over 70% of them choice to take an active part in the sessions. Being able to play football with their young person, strengthen their relationship through a common interest and mix with other families is a huge benefit and seen by most of our group as a key highlight of the project.
What Rangers Charity Foundation SCIO has learned
Although this project does not work with a huge number of people it has an extremely big impact on the families involved as there is very little alternative opportunities that can accommodate them due to the complexity of providing physical activity for young people with mixed levels of vision and numerous other support needs.
As the project has run for many years now, we have had some fantastic leaning that around the design and delivery of the project that allow it to run smoothly and provide a safe and engaging environment for all involved.
Some of the things we have learned are:
Ensuring coach consistency - This allows both the young people and their parents/carers to form positive trusting relationships as well as ensuring the coaches have a knowledge of the people involved and are able to adapt around individual needs.
Building up drills – Its easier to make a drill or activity harder, start off nice and basic to help everyone understand it, you can also give different participants additional parts to do to challenge them more whilst keeping it simple for the majority of the group.
Give ownership to the participants – The sessions are for the benefit of the young people and their families, getting their insight and making changes so that you better meet their needs is essential to create an engaging project.
How Rangers Charity Foundation SCIO has benefitted from the funding
The support the Better Breaks has provided to the Rangers Charity Foundation over the years in terms of funding, networking opportunities and a knowledge of what makes projects successful has been invaluable. Without this incredible support we would be unable to offer this service and provide much needed activity and breaks for our young people and their families.
Project Outcomes
Outcome
Visually Impaired young people will take part a fun sporting activity and feel more confident in a social environment resulting in new friendships
Results
Due to the inability to make eye contact building relationships with peers can be extremely challenging for VI young people. However 88% of carers/parents said that taking part in the project had expanded their young persons social circle, showing that the project has made a positive impact in this area.
Case study
C (17) has been attending the sessions for a number of years. Mum C said “He doesn’t generally do well with people at all but the football sessions have got him at least talking to others and feeling more confident. His communication skills have greatly improved and It puts a smile on his face. VI football sessions are the only of its kind for kids I’ve found in the west of Scotland they are a godsend.”
Outcome
Parent/Carers increase their social groups and support network with people in similar circumstances allowing them to share coping mechanisms and feel better supported.
Results
The project creates the opportunity families in similar situations to come together to provide support and reassurance alongside strengthening their bonds with their young person through a shared interest. 100% of parents/Carers that took part in the project said that the project had supported them in their caring role.
Case study
L (11) has been taking part in the project for a few years. Dad A said: “Taking Part in football with L has been amazing, his brothers both play and this has helped him have something in common with them. Meeting other parents who have similar challenges and be able to compare experiences and swap tips has been great for both me and H(wife).”
Outcome
Visually Impaired young people will be more physically active and better able to express themselves allowing carers to feel more relaxed and less stressed.
Results
Out with school there are very little opportunities to take part in activities that meet the needs of our participants so these sessions play a huge role in keeping them physically active. 100% of parents/carers said that taking part in the project increased their young persons physical activity level and 82% said that it had helped improve their ability to communicate
Case study
T (12) is new to the project this year. Dad A said: “T always liked physical activity but he was very conscious of his shortcomings when competing with other kids who don't have to endure the challenges he has. He has been made verbally aware of this at times at other places but here he is so comfortable that it makes us delighted to see him so happy. It gives him such a lift, It has increased his confidence and the banter with the coaches has made him feel accepted and more comfortable in dealing with his condition.”