On 10^th October, Swindon Town FC Community Foundation held its first Disability Festival of the season, supported by the Premier League Fans Fund. More than 50 disabled children, many of whom had never visited Swindon Town before, came along to Foundation Park for an activity-filled morning of sport and exercise.

For over an hour, the participants enjoyed the fantastic facilities within the Nigel Eady multi-sports dome, taking part in up to eight different activities including ten-pin bowling, dodgeball, basketball and penalty shootouts. For those wanting a break, Chris Kyle and Vic Morgan (OSC) provided fascinating talks about the history of the club. 

The event was also supported by Swindon Town’s Fletcher Holman, who spent time talking with everyone, signing autographs, posing for photographs and getting involved in the activities.​“I really enjoyed being part of the day and connecting with our supporters in such a fun and engaging way” – Fletcher Holman

Participants and their family members also received tickets to the Crewe Alexandra match. 

“It was a fantastic morning, made even more special by seeing so many participants engaging, enjoying themselves and creating lasting memories at our disability event. Over 85% of those who attended had never experienced a Swindon Town FC matchday before, so being able to provide children with the opportunity to attend their first-ever football match was incredibly rewarding. Events like this demonstrate the power of football to bring people together, create inclusive experiences and make a real difference in people’s lives. This is something we are incredibly passionate about at Swindon Town Community Foundation. I’m hugely grateful to the Premier League Foundation and their Fans Fund project for making this opportunity possible and helping us create such a memorable experience for the children and their families.” — Scott Burden, Disability Lead (scott@​stfcfoundation.​com).

The Foundation has 3 further disability events later in the season:
6^th February: Visually Impaired and Blind participants
6^th March: Women & Girls participants
17^th April: Wheelchair participants

“Swindon Town FC Community Foundation is grateful for the support of the Premier League Fans Fund, which enables us to deliver these inclusive events through to the end of the ²⁰²⁷⁄₂₈ season. Our objective is to ensure that disabled people feel connected to the Foundation and Football Club, knowing they can take part in sporting activities and watch professional football in a safe and accessible environment” – Darren Howell, Partnerships & Strategic Manager (darren@​stfcfoundation.​com).

The Swindon Town FC Community Foundation Disability Festivals are supported by the Premier League Fans Fund. The Premier League Fans Fund provides grants to support football clubs at all levels of the game to strengthen connections between them, their fans and local communities.