LFC men’s first team players Stefan Bajcetic and Vitezslav Jaros surprised LFC Foundation participants this week when they visited the Kicks Inclusion Camp at Anfield Sports and Community Centre (ASCC).
The Kicks Inclusion Camp, which is supported by the Premier League and Steve Morgan Foundation, is run throughout the year providing free sports activities for children, young people and adults with additional learning, behaviour, physical and sensory needs across the Liverpool City Region.
All members of the camp from the age of 5 to 65, have varying disabilities both physical and neurological. The session saw them take part in a range of football drills and activities within their ages groups, before Bajcetic and Jaros arrived to surprise them.
Both players spent time meeting the participants, watching the sessions and getting involved, while also sharing their footballing tips, signing autographs and posing for photos.
On supporting the work of LFC Foundation, Jaros said:
“It’s great to see everyone here and for them all to be able to be involved and put the shirt on and play football.
“It’s always good to come down and see the guys get excited so it’s brilliant for us as well as them. There’s a big age range here and it’s brilliant to see, football is for everyone and that’s the way it should be and the LFC Foundation is helping do that.”
Bajcetic added:
“It’s great, obviously Liverpool is a big club on the field and off the field as well with things like this. It’s been great to come here and see everyone and lots of little fans who were really excited so it’s great.
“The LFC Foundation are always doing work to help people with disabilities and it’s really good, coming to stuff like this it’s amazing to see what the LFC Foundation does to help people off the pitch as well.”
The Inclusion programmes deliver activities not only for those with disabilities and additional needs but also for refugees and asylum seekers and the LGBT+ community, with all of the programmes championing the social benefits of football to support underrepresented communities.
Discussing the importance of the inclusion programmes, Karl Carney, Department Manager: Sport and Physical Activity at LFC Foundation, said:
“We have a number of inclusive programmes based around sport and physical activity and we pride ourselves on ensuring we provide opportunities for all regardless of characteristic or background, aligned to our Red Together strategy. This is our commitment on embedding and championing equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our work.
“Inclusivity in sport is really important because we feel that football is an activity for all, we believe it’s really good for mental and physical health and provides social interaction for all those that take part.
“Everyone was absolutely delighted to see Stefan and Vitezslav turn up and start taking part, it really was a fantastic surprise and so good of them to take the time out to join us in the community.”
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