Tankerton Football Club's Pan-Disability Team visited by their new sponsors
Tankerton Football Club’s newly-formed pan-disability football team has been going from strength to strength, with numbers increasing weekly, and our appeal for kit and sponsorship having been answered by two very current and exciting projects. Today the coaches and players welcomed them to the weekly training session.
The first, Acorn TV, is the broadcast streaming service responsible for the new 6-part TV drama, Whitstable Pearl, starring Kerry Godliman, Howard Charles and Frances Barber - based on the crime novels by local author, Julie Wassmer.
Julie, who has championed the club’s fundraising efforts in the past after meeting children and parents involved in our Deaf Children’s Football Team, said; ‘Having seen the hard work done by Tankerton Football Club (TFC) in providing access to grassroots football for children and adults with physical and learning disabilities, I felt sure that Acorn TV would welcome the opportunity to sponsor this valuable local charity - and I’m delighted that they have done so.”
Acorn TV UK’s Marketing Director, Jason Gray, said; ‘I’m really excited about this and it is great that we can support Tankerton Football Club in this way. I’m a massive fan of both Whitstable Pearl – the TV series - and the town that inspired it!’
The second sponsor of our new team is Born Anxious - a clothing company set up by an inspirational special needs parent to provide sensory clothing for invisible disabilities and promote inclusion and kindness. Born Anxious is a social enterprise that feeds back to charities and local groups that promote inclusion. Its ethos is to encourage those living with Autism to take part in clubs that allow them to reach their potential.
Last month, Born Anxious added the official Harvey Price autism awareness clothing range to its collection of innovative and fashionable sensory wear.
Owner, Kellie Barker, has been nominated as Entrepreneur of the Year at the national Inclusion and Diversity Awards, and we wish her well. The link to vote is attached below.
https://nationaldiversityawards.co.uk/nominate/33169/
Kellie said ‘We can’t think of a better way to celebrate our message and we are excited to watch the team grow”.
TFC would like to thank both Julie, Jason and Kellie for their incredible support of our pan-disability team.
More about Tankerton Football Club (TFC)
Tankerton Football Club (TFC), is a progressive, community based organization and registered charity with inclusion at the very heart of its ethos. TFC aims to contribute to reducing barriers to grassroots football for young for children and adults with physical and learning disabilities within our local community.
The club currently has 25 teams: including a deaf children’s team which, in 2019, was awarded Kent FA’s Community Project of the year.
The club recently expanded its disability provision by initiating a pan-disability team for young adults who have left school and often live in residential care homes or attend day centres such as Mencap.
Tankerton FC, whose ethos is to welcome all - regardless of their disability or impairment - would like to enter the pan-disability community by joining the Kent Disability Football league.
The young adults who attend, have a range of disabilities, so training sessions are delivered by a specialist coach and need to be adapted and differentiated accordingly. The numbers who are regularly attending the weekly sessions are over 20 and mixed gender.
These individuals typically face significant inequalities on a daily basis and are invariably excluded from mainstream sporting activities. The provision of meaningful sporting opportunities such as TFC football, are not only fundamental to their physical and mental well-being, but also proven to be beneficial for improving their social skills, co-ordination, cognition, confidence and self esteem.
Registered Charity No: 1154570
How you can help
Tankerton Football Club enters the days of their crowdfunding campaign to secure their new home ground https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/TankertonFC. Over £4,900 has been raised so far but the club is still appealing for further donations to get them closer to their target.
The club is looking to develop 7 pitches on their new site on the bends between Whitstable and Herne Bay as well as enhance their Nature Reserve. The funding will help them secure the ground for the whole club of over 300 players across 20 different teams including boys’, girls’, men’s, ladies’ veterans’ and teams for deaf players and those with disabilities.
The money raised so far has come from 49 different supporters and includes some significant company donations from The Plough Whitstable, Interpreting Matters, PCAS Kent, Emptage Garden Landscapes, Herberts Cycle Shop and Toast Herne Bay as well as many individuals’ donations.
The support for the club is evident through the many comments that have been left.
Football is more than just sport, it's about inclusion and community - Tankerton FC are a brilliant club and the players and coaches so deserve a great new ground.
Tankerton FC has provided me with so many opportunities over the years and I hope with the development of the new ground it will continue to provide opportunities for future generations and continue to sit at the heart of the local community.
There are many rewards still available including two newly added opportunities to explore the Nature Reserve at the site. For a £15 donation, recipients can spend a morning bird watching in one of the 3 bird hides in the nature reserve. Pledge £20 and get a tour of the Nature Reserve and a half-day session of bee or butterfly watching.
The crowdfunding campaign finishes on Friday 13th August, a date which while unlucky for some will hopefully be lucky for Tankerton FC.
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/TankertonFC
