Poole Town FC plays a key role in helping create a partnership far beyond the pitch, partnering with the South West Regional Assessment Centre (SWRAC), and it will partner with each other for the next couple of seasons.

The collaboration aims to create opportunities for young adults with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) , using the sport of football as a key platform to promote inclusion, develop awareness and help with future goals to build on their CV.

The campaign is already becoming popular within the community and the club's board at the Tantnam ground with #SayYestoSen have been integrated.

The club's commercial manager, Ben Edgell, said: “ I don’t think as a community we do enough to support” . The partnership showcases a belief that the club has a responsibility to support people who may not have the chance to receive opportunities.

SWARAC positions itself across the Dorset and Liverpool region, providing specialist training opportunities and learning skills for young adults aged between 16 to 30. The organisation's main focus is to provide individuals who struggle in mainstream schools and colleges with a supportive package to build their confidence, experience and independence.

Managing director for SWARAC Adrian Gunner said: “We have a lot of people who come to use who haven’t got a lot of social skills, I am really glad we do it with Poole Town as we feel like it's appreciated”.

Its work focuses on those who struggle to achieve or enter a workspace. By offering this opportunity, it will provide a personal learning experience, which SWARAC aims for young people to achieve their full potential and integrate into a world of employment for the future.

As part of the partnership, Poole Town will offer a variety of experiences across the different areas of the football club. Rather than limited options, the wide range of roles will offer flexibility and offer them in different paths.

Young adults will be offered experiences such as ground keeping, marketing, retail opportunities and turnstiles, which will gain their confidence and independence. Mr Edgell said, “We are trying to give these guys opportunities that they can learn from, and as a club we can learn from this”.

The project is already running with a recent Poole Town game having someone from SWARAC at the turnstiles, gaining matchday experience in a busy environment. Mr Edgell said: “ He can go away with that experience and be able to put that on his CV”.

The majority of people who are linked with SEND have major problems with work barriers with employment, which is often limited, and a lack of opportunities and reduced exposure to the workplace. Programmes like this are aimed at breaking down the employment barriers to allow exposure to a workplace.

SWARAC students have been visiting the club's ground for tours and learning the football trade behind the scenes, exploring potential paths.

Mr Gunner said, “We have people who are not great with education but are much better with the particle side of things”. The hope is that in a football environment, it will help the practical skills and inspire students to seek opportunities that they may not have considered before.

Football has been recognised for bringing communities and the club together. With this partnership, it is showcasing how Poole Town can be a catalyst for social change for the local community. Mr Edgell believes this is only the beginning, as he said; “Our first partnership with them will hopefully be a long-term thing with the club”.

Since the organisation started in 1996, it now supports over 200 young adults annually. Since then, it has grown in helping people's abilities, with the organisations 30 year anniversary this year.

The partnership is showcasing between a local organisation and football to create a sustainable environment for the local community and everyone involved. It will ultimately, it will ensure all the students can develop vital skills to pursue their ambitions.

Poole Town has teamed up with South West Regional Assessment Centre (SWARAC) to enable to create a work place for people with SEND. Through this partnership, students will gain experiences across of variety of roles within the club, including match day roles and ground keeping to marketing and retail. This will support the #SayYestoSen campaign, ensuring to raise awareness and to promote to the local community about inclusion. SWRAC supports young adults ages 16-30 who struggles in mainstream education, this will provide them hands on experience for a future workplace. Pool Town is using its football as a platform to build confidence, ensuring to develop skills and creating opportunities for the future. This is showcasing football can meet the local communities to make a difference. #football #send #community