Dundee United Community Trust’s commitment to providing sport and physical activity opportunities to people living with disabilities has been recognised with a rebrand of Dundee United Para-Football Club.
The project will now be known as the Dundee United Para-Sports Club, reflective of the lack of opportunities present for people with disabilities to engage in wider sport other than football.
The rebrand comes at the club’s second anniversary which has seen the growth in the club’s provision, membership and partners from three initial football sessions for children with disabilities, amputee football and football for adults experiencing ill mental health. The growth and success of the project led to the football club being named as the best para-football project in the Scottish Football Association East Region’s Grassroots Awards in 2020.
With the demand for additional para-sport continuing to increase, the club seeks to reflect that growth by providing as many opportunities to participate in sport and physical activity as possible with staff completing coaching courses in order to deliver an increased variety of sporting opportunities.
Paul Wilson, Head of Community Development, said:
“We understand that football isn’t for everyone, so we have been working on providing other sports for some time now. We are excited to confirm that, in the next few months, we will be delivering a brand-new athletics programme specifically for people with a disability. Changing to Dundee United Para-Sports Club reaffirms our commitment to providing opportunities for those living with a disability to take part in sport and physical activity, not just in football but in various other sports too.”
Graeme Doig, Scottish Disability Sport Tayside Regional Development Manager, said:
“I am delighted and proud to work in partnership with Dundee United Para-Sports Club. Their weekly football sessions have proven a huge success for all involved. They are fun and meaningful with each one tailored to get the best out of their players whether they have a learning, sensory or physical disability. The coaches ability to treat each player as an individual with individual needs is what sets them apart and keeps the players coming back week after week whilst attracting new players into a football club suitable for their ability’
‘Dundee United Para-Sports Club also support our Tayside Parasport Festival each year which aims to introduce pupils with physical, visual or hearing impairment into a variety of sports. Feedback from pupils and parents alike is always extremely positive and this always helps create introductory pathways for these young people to play weekly football in a trusted, safe and secure environment with their peers.
“I am really excited to work in partnership with them again to develop more sport and physical activity opportunities in the months ahead.”
If you would like to find out more about Dundee United Para-Sports Club email: enquiries@dundeeunitedct.co.uk