Level Playing Field Week of Action

Tying in with our week of action for Kick It Out, we are also showing our support for the Level Playing Field initiative, promoting equality for disabled supporters across the country.

With equality and inclusion at the forefront of everything we do as a Club, our Week of Action provides an opportunity to highlight the on-going work supporting our disabled fans and those living with disabilities in the local community.

LPF is a campaigning and advisory organisation working on behalf of all disabled supporters to share good practice, raise awareness and promote improved access to sports stadiums for disabled fans and disabled people who aspire to attend live sporting events. LPF uses the unique voice of sport to improve access and inclusion for disabled people across a wider society by working alongside sports bodies and government.

Through the Tottenham Hotspur Disabled Supporters Association (DSA), founded in 2010 to represent and promote the views of disabled fans, the Club regularly liaises with the DSA to highlight any problems faced by disabled fans and resolve any issues. The DSA also has representation on the Access Forum for the Northumberland Development Project to ensure that disabled fans are engaged and involved at the planning stages as we seek to develop a world-class facility accessible to all.

This season particularly, there have been a number of positive changes to our work and services provided for fans with disabilities. Working closely with Tottenham Hotspur Foundation and Tottenham Hotspur Disabled Supporters Association, we have developed a bespoke Disability Awareness Course for Stewards, enabling them to build trusting relationships with disabled fans on match days. During this season’s away games, those fans with disabilities that use official Club travel have been accompanied by our Disability Liaison Officer, ensuring their needs are catered for in and around different stadia in the Premier League and in Europe.

Commenting on the challenges fans with restricted mobility can face at games and the importance of stadia being able to accommodate disabled supporters, Laurence Cornwall said: “Wheelchairs and mobility scooters are developing and improving day-by-day. This is great for those of us who use these chairs but can lead to problems at stadiums that aren't fully equipped to deal with them.

“At some stadiums we find that space is very tight, making it difficult for us to turn and then you have the problem of fans in front of you persistently standing.”

For more information about Level Playing Field visit www.levelplayingfield.org.uk