To celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Manchester City’s Stefan Ortega, Nico O’Reilly and Josh Wilson-Esbrand headed down to a City in the Community (CITC), One City Disability Tournament to surprise some of the young participants.
The players attended the session, which provides opportunity for participants to take part in free football and sporting provision relevant to their specific disability.
Whilst at the Tennis Centre, they chatted with participants who were taking part in the tournament, as well as learning more about the session’s activities.
Commenting on the day, CITC Disability Officer, Sean Dwyer said: “By having players come visit the sessions, it allows us to further educate on disability sports, as well as helping to break down stigma.”
International Day of Persons with Disabilities aims to promote the rights and well-being of people across the world.
During their last reporting year CITC delivered more than 58 hours of their One City Disability programme, which is vital to the young people in the community.
Sean also explained the importance of such programmes, adding: “Here at CITC it is important to provide a safe space for any individual with a disability.
“We make sure that regardless of a person’s disability, we have a session that suits an individual’s needs. It is important that we make this available as access to disability sport can have barriers.
“By offering the sessions we do, we make sure to knock down those barriers. Whether it is stigma, financial, or travel. We aim to provide sessions for the community.”
Sessions are held in Primary and High Schools as well as in community venues outside of school hours ensuring that participants across Greater Manchester have access to disability specific provision and education.
Integral to the growth of the City in the Community’s One City Disability programme has been Nissan, who have been officially supporting all of City in the Community’s disability and LGBTQ+ projects since 2021 and are now its Official Equality Diversity and Inclusion Partner
City in the Community and Nissan have also collaborated on successful campaigns and events since 2021 – including the Nissan Possibilities Project, which helps to create more opportunities for people from underrepresented communities, and City in the Community’s Blue Run fundraiser.
City in the Community empowers healthier lives with city youth through football.
To find out more, visit www.mancity.com/citc or follow @citcmancity.
If you’d like to support CITC and its work, you can this Christmas through Manchester City’s festive campaign, ‘**0161 Christmas Calling’** which creates an opportunity for fans to come together with the Club to support its charity and local children’s hospitals.
For every purchase a fan makes from a range of selected retail items*, including the ‘0161’ inspired PUMA home kit for the 2024/25 season, the Club will donate £5 to its charity, City in the Community (CITC) (registered charity no. 1139229).
Manchester City is also matching any additional donations made to the charity, to help increase overall funds up to the value of £75,000**.
Fans can donate at the tills in the stadium store, when checking out online during their purchase journey for match tickets, or via this donation page.
Funds raised will go towards supporting CITC’s existing programmes and including a new year-round project with the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House, as well as a refurbished space for patients to play football.
50% of the profits will also be donated to Teenage Cancer Trust, which offers unique care and support, designed for and with young people.
For more information, visit www.mancity.com/ChristmasCalling
City in the Community empowers healthier lives with city youth through football.
*Fair Isle Christmas Plush, 4-in-a-row Christmas Jumper, Santa Teddy Plush, Penguin Winter Plush, Christmas Sloth Plush, Manchester City’s PUMA home kit for the 2024/25 season.
**MCFC will donate £5 for each product* sold and will match donations made to Manchester City F.C. City in the Community Foundation (registered charity no. 1139229) during the period of 07 November 2024 to 31 December 2024 up to a maximum of £75,000 in total.