Celtic win top European award for Ability Counts programme

CELTIC is delighted to have been awarded the Best Community & Social Responsibility Programme for 2011 for the Ability Counts Initiative from the ECA. This prestigious award was presented at the European Club Association’s Official Dinner in Geneva earlier this week.

The aim of the Awards is to reward outstanding Club performances, encouraging best practice, highlighting successful club management and strengthening relationships between ECA Member Clubs.

Celtic’s Ability Counts Programme was specifically designed for children with Down’s Syndrome and was launched in November 2010. The programme has been a huge success, with excellent feedback from parents, participants and Down’s Syndrome Scotland. The three main objectives of the programme are:

- To engage within the heart of the community, focusing on children with
Down’s Syndrome providing an opportunity to play football in a fun, but
challenging, environment;
- To improve overall fitness levels and health and wellbeing in children with
Down’s Syndrome and increase social skills through teaching individual and
team skills
- To promote inclusion and enhance society’s acceptance of diversity through the positive presence of this programme.

For the first time, the ECA CSR Award Winner was nominated by an independent panel composed of the following members:
Mr. Senes Erzik, UEFA Vice-President and Chairman of the Committee for Fair Play & Social Responsibility at both UEFA (2009-11) and FIFA,
Mr. Avraham Burg, Chairman of Mifalot, Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC’s Education & Social Project (Winner of the ECA CSR Award 2010)
Mr. Ivo Belet, leading Member of the European Parliament (MEP) on football matters; author of the European Parliament report on the future of professional football in Europe.

Mr. Ivo Belet, who presented the award to Celtic, said: “This is a perfect example of how a club’s role goes well beyond the field of play. The ability to enrich their local communities, I believe, knows no bounds.”

Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell added: “It is a tremendous honour to have received this Award, one of only four Awards given by the European Club Association - we are indeed in fantastic company.

"We pride ourselves on being a Club open to all and this award highlights our continued work within the local community. We could not achieve this without the commitment of Robert Docherty and his staff in the Celtic Foundation. Their work in this area deserves immense credit. These initiatives are what, I firmly believe, set Celtic apart.”

Pandora Summerfield, Chief Executive, Down’s Syndrome Scotland said: “We are delighted to hear about the Ability Counts project winning the European Club Association’s CSR Award.

"Celtic’s willingness to work with us and make this project a success cannot be understated, they have gone above and beyond our expectations and have given the children and their families some special memories as well as improved their football skills”

Robert Docherty, Head of Celtic Foundation, said: “To receive this Award is a fantastic achievement for the Club and the Celtic Foundation. Celtic Football Club is for people regardless of age, race, ability, gender or religion and is very proud of its history and supportive of its local community.

“This award demonstrates and acknowledges the work that the Club is involved in. I would like to thank Down’s Syndrome Scotland for their support in this excellent programme.”

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