Football for All Leadership Programme - Second Edition

The Football For All Leadership Programme returns for its second edition working to improve representation of the disabled community in the football world by providing education and experience for disabled people to improve their employability and entrepreneurship.

Following the successful first edition of the Football For All Leadership Programme (FFALP), which saw 75% of the participants (all disabled people) employed in sports organisations in a period of five months after the end of the courses, and 15 football projects being developed by our participants in 11 different countries, the programme is returning for the second edition which will take place in Lisbon, from 20 to 27 of October 2019 (followed by eight months of project implementation).

Why this programme?

Globally, more than one billion people experience disability (15% of the world population)
National unemployment rate for disabled people varies between 50% and 90%, and in “most developed countries the official unemployment rate for persons with disabilities of working age is at least twice that for those who have no disability”
Some sources suggest that football is the preferred sport of 3.5 billion people worldwide and generates as much as €121 billion annually. Therefore, it should reflect the whole population. So by increasing employment of disabled people within football we strive for true and inclusive representation

We believe that a quality leadership programme specifically designed for people with different abilities who desire to work in football helps amplify their voices within the industry, thus contributing to their due representation in all of the industry’s dimensions. This is ensured through partnership with four prestigious academic entities and six top football organisations.

Programme Information

Dates of the 2019/2020 Edition: 20 October 2019 to 31 May 2020
This Programme is divided in two Stages:
- On site Lecture Stage: 20 to 27 October 2019, in Lisbon, Portugal: participants will have lectures delivered by our partners and by other top lecturers. These lectures will focus on Academic Knowledge, Leadership and Personal Development, and Project Management.
- Project Implementation: November 2019 to May 2020: with the support of a mentor and a local football organization, the participants will need to structure a personal project linked to football and disability at their local region (to create local legacy)

The FFALP has three main objectives: employment, entrepreneurship, and networking. All three aim to boost the self-esteem, capacity, and opportunities for disabled people to be active members of the football industry.

Key Dates