Supporting young people with pre-employability opportunities and skills through established pathways

Goalball UK is the UK's governing body for the Paralympic sport of goalball and is proud to be a registered charity with a mission to develop and promote goalball for people with visual impairments at all levels. 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. The organisation introduces goalball to new players, partners with others to increase its visibility, and hosts competitions. Goalball is a unique team sport accessible to all, originally created for visually impaired individuals to rehabilitate after WWII, played globally at various levels. Goalball is an exciting Paralympic, indoor, 3-aside team sport, of attack and defend – with a unique twist!

Goalball UK used a £15,000 funding grant via the MOU programme to create work experience opportunities specifically within goalball for individuals who are blind or partially sighted (VI). This initiative is crucial as research demonstrates that VI people who participate in goalball are 47 per cent more likely to pursue higher education and achieve greater success later in life. While 60 per cent of Goalball UK's players are currently in full-time education, mirroring a positive trend within the sport, the wider VI community faces significant challenges. Unemployment rates for VI individuals can reach 75 per cent, and more than 40 per cent fall into the NEET category (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). However, 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.

“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.” - Goalball UK

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.