A BOURNEMOUTH based charity has launched its first ever FA registered football team for children with disabilities.

The Dorset Children’s Foundation have set up DCFFC, sponsored by local business Health-on-Line, as part of the local charity’s Accessible for All initiative.

Open to children with varying levels of disability, the new team was revealed by the local charity at their family fun day, attended by some of the charity’s supporters and dignitaries including professional Boxer Chris Billam-Smith and Dorsey Bear.

World famous Netball player Giva Mentor, another one of the charity’s sporting Ambassadors, said: “Although I’m the other side of the world, I often say you can take the girl out of Bournemouth, but you can’t take Bournemouth out of the girl.

“Sport has provided me with not just opportunities, but the environment to better myself and meet amazing people. That’s why it’s exciting to hear the partnership with FA as the easier we can make it for our young people with a disability the better the community will be.”

The Dorset Children’s Foundation have started an initiative to make sports and fun activities fully accessible for the children that they support as there is a lack of provision in the wider community for these opportunities for disabled children.

Patsy Hallmey, Co-Founder of the charity, said: “We are thrilled to be able to offer these events to our children and their families.

“It doesn’t stop there, and we have started to run a range of inclusive events such as: swimming, cricket, yoga, family fun days, craft afternoons, all ability discos, soft play, sensory sessions and music therapy, to name but a few.”