Goals Beyond Grass - Strikeforce Powerchair

Aim

We are raising money to fund a sports powerchair which is designed for football enabling people with disabilities to take part in the sport.

What do we do?

We enhance the lives of disabled adults and children, by reducing social isolation and engaging the whole community in sport and physical activity using powerchair football as the main catalyst. 

Our objective is to make social and physical activity available to all irrespective of gender, age, race or ability. Goals Beyond Grass use the sport of powerchair football to create an all-inclusive environment reaching out to all with a disability, but also enabling their siblings to join in so they can compete on a level playing field.

How will a Strikeforce chair benefit our participants?

Brad Bates - GBG Ambassador and Current England Player:

"A strikeforce chair is without a doubt the best playing chair on the market, and is essential for players to be able to realise and reach their potential within the sport. 

I myself had played for around 8 years prior to strike forces coming available and I’d always had a passion for advanced techniques however the chair I was using was constantly holding me back. The development once getting a strikeforce was instant and I still continue to learn, grow and develop only now it’s made possible by having a chair that enables me to put my visions into action" 

A Strikeforce chair is not only safer because it’s built specifically for football, it’s more comfortable as it can be adapted for the individual participant. Crucially, it doesn’t hold back the participants development unlike other chairs, as it is designed to enhance the performance.

Who do we reach out to?

Powerchair football is the only invasive team sport for people who use electric wheelchairs. Unfortunately, due to the types of disabilities some players have such as Muscular Dystrophy and other similar conditions, their life expectancy can drop to as low as 20 or late teens, so it is our mission to give them the best possible experiences through sport. We can enhance the lives of people living with a disability, providing inclusive opportunities to engage them in their community.

Our Community Club service users are aged right the way from 4 years old to 65 years old. Over 20% of the population in Gloucestershire has a disability, so its crucial that we are providing inclusive sports provision.

The sport puts participants on a level playing field and having a regular club allows them to be able to experience all the benefits of taking part in sport and being engaged in the local community, such as improved social skills, increased confidence and creating new friendships with people in similar situations.

This project successfully funded on 16th July 2020