Goalball UK
Goalball UK is the governing body for the Paralympic sport of goalball. A registered charity based at The English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, it aims to develop and promote goalball, provide support to players, coaches, and clubs, and promote inclusivity in sports.
Goalball is an indoor, 3-aside team sport, of attack and defend. It was originally created for visually impaired individuals to rehabilitate after the second world war and is now played globally.
Goalball UK used a £15,000 funding grant via the MOU programme to create work experience opportunities within goalball for individuals who are blind or partially sighted (VI).
Unemployment rates for VI individuals can reach 75 per cent, and more than 40 per cent fall into Not in Education, Employment, or Training category.
However, VI people who participate in goalball are 47 per cent more likely to pursue higher education and achieve greater success later in life. Goalball UK's elite teams showcase the transformative power of the sport. These teams include professionals like doctors, teachers, and even a recent Oxford University graduate, demonstrating the diverse career paths achievable through goalball participation.
Goalball UK
Through the grant we have been able to begin to offer and support within our services and in-house opportunities to learn, develop and aspire. We have set fully accessible roles within our competition and event formats, academy and talent programme only recruit those dedicated and afford progress options even outside playing, for the first time our in-house opportunities include shadowing events management, annual work placements and fundraising support volunteering roles.
A total of 22 young people secured volunteering or work placement opportunities across the UK. Eight of these placements were created directly by the grant funding.
Chris, blind from birth, quickly excelled at goalball after discovering the sport a few years ago, earning a place on the GB team. Despite not being selected for the IBSA World Games last year, he channelled his energy into volunteering for the grassroots community and schools programme. Attending the World Games as a runner for the GB team, he proudly represented his country. To address his fitness goals, Chris secured a part-time role as a PT instructor at his local leisure centre, mentored academy students, and organised a charity fundraiser for Goalball UK.