The Football Association of Wales has appointed a Grassroots Disability & Inclusion Manager as it continues to implement its strategy for grassroots football – Enhancing Lives Through Football. Developing inclusive and sustainable football clubs that enhance the lives of their community is a key strategic goal of that strategy.
Therefore, the FAW has welcomed Dai Carpenter into its grassroots team to help influence and support the growth and retention of both disability football and participation levels with under-represented groups.
Carpenter has joined the association from England’s Active Partnership Network with a vast amount of experience in disability football. Prior to that role he spent 14 years at the Devon County FA, where he started as a Disability Football Development Officer in 2008 before progressing into management.
The new role will also advise, influence and lead on grassroots solutions to disability and inclusion challenges in addition to developing a stronger disability pathway to increase the number of people with a disability playing community football.
“I’ve been involved with disability football for 16 years and for me it’s some of the most fun you can have,” said Carpenter, who originally comes from Neath. “I think I’m really lucky to have known and built relationships with hundreds of players with a disability, and seen many of them progress from players to coaches and club volunteers.”
The Grassroots Disability & Inclusion Manager role also has the important responsibility to increase the number of participants from ethnically diverse community football and to establish plans to support the development of football opportunities for people from under-represented groups.
Read the grassroots strategy below to find out more.
