02.12.2016

CAFE Week of Action 2017 dates announced

Fare member Centre For Access to Football in Europe (CAFE) annual Week of Action, focused on promoting the wider inclusion of disabled people within football, will in 2017 be celebrated between 4-12 March.

The 2017 initiative will be the fifth successive CAFE Week of Action and will feature for the first time an official mascot. Max Access, the mascot, is a young disabled fan that will help promote events taking place under the Total Football Total Access banner.

CAFE's Week of Action is a week-long campaign aimed at celebrating inclusion in football and working towards ensuring disabled people can take their rightful places amongst their peers within the game, from the grassroots to the boardrooms, as spectators, players, coaches, administrators, volunteers and decision makers.

In 2015, the event included activities from 14 countries that took the campaign beyond Europe to Brazil.

The not for profit is inviting the grassroots movement and professional football to join the campaign and helping further the message of Total Football Total Access.

Suggested activities include: welcoming more disabled people to attend a live match; pre-match and half time ceremonies with a statement of support from the team captains; dedicated articles published on websites, in matchday programmes and club magazines; improvements to accessible stadium facilities and implementation of accessible matchday services for disabled fans; disabled fans selected as matchday player escorts/mascots; disability inclusion and etiquette training seminars for club personnel; and the appointment of local CAFE Week of Action ambassadors.

CAFE Managing Director Joanna Deagle said: "The CAFE Week of Action is a fantastic opportunity for football to celebrate disabled people and the roles they can play across all levels of the game".

During the 2017 Week of Action, CAFE will also acknowledge those who, within the game, do most to improve access and inclusion for disabled people. Nominations of individuals, clubs or associations can be made until 16 December.

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