UEFA Women’s EURO 22 Inclusive Volunteering®

Community Integrated Care partnered with the tournament team behind UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 to create a special programme that enabled more than 100 people who access care and support to develop new skills and passions, through special projects inspired by the tournament and volunteering at the event.

Spanning every fixture locality and working with people who have a range of disabilities – such as learning disabilities, autism, mental health concerns and acquired brain injuries, the programme brought excitement and hope to many lives.

Through our charity’s specialist Inclusive Volunteering® Team, we designed a series of life-changing projects inspired by the tournament, from an employability club that enabled people to develop workplace skills inspired by the routines of the Lionesses, to professional cookery programmes that built independent living skills.

Uniquely impactful and innovative

Our soap making masterclasses gave people who have profound and multiple learning disabilities the chance to volunteer at the Tournament, by creating soap for international teams.

Proving major events can include people with complex needs

From enabling a person who has sight loss and a learning disability to fulfil his dream of becoming a sports reporter, through to a WEURO 2022 garden being created at care service for people who were physically unable to attend the event, countless barriers were overcome to change lives.

With every participant having access to a special opportunity that has been designed around their own personal goals and interests and having the chance to apply their new skills by volunteering at the tournament, it provided a unique platform to enable people to build independence and aspirations for the future.

Woman in wheelchair and support worker standing behind her smiling to camera with WEURO stadium in the background

Growing in confidence and independence

New evaluation has proved that this has had a profound impact, which is being felt long after the tournament. 100% of volunteers stated that the programme has increased their confidence, whilst 94% of people believe it has enabled them to become more independent.

This summer’s UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 was one of the most-inclusive, accessible major events ever to take place in England, and everyone in our society had the chance to be part of it.

Susan Couper, Senior Recruitment and Volunteer Manager for UEFA Women’s EURO 2022

Community Integrated Care are doing some fantastic work getting some incredible people volunteering. It gives a real opportunity for people involved to break through the glass ceiling and realise that the sky’s the limit.

Tony Fretwell, Women’s Super League Academy Manager for The FA

I’ve heard all about your projects in preparation for the Tournament. From the media and photography clubs to employability courses and soap making, thank you so much for volunteering your time and efforts to make this the best UEFA Women’s Euros yet.

Fara Williams, England Lionesses Legend

Breaking down barriers

According to the Office for National Statistics ‘Outcomes for disabled people in the UK: 2021’, Disabled people with severe or specific learning difficulties, autism and mental illness had the lowest employment rates. Our employability programmes aim to build the skills, aspirations, confidence through volunteering opportunities, creating a pathway for employment in the future.