# **Annual Report** 2022 l e v e l p l a y i n g f i e l d . o r g . u k A n n u a l R e p o r t |Contents|| |---|---| |President's foreword|3| |Chair's report|5| |About Level Playing Field|7| |Knowledge Centre|12| |Campaigns|28| |UEFA Champions League Final|23| |The Team Grows|30| |Level Playing Field|33| |A word from the Chief Executive|39| A n n u a l R e p o r t ## **President's foreword** ## David Bernstein CBE Welcome to this year's Level Playing Field Annual Report. I would like to start by thanking all Level Playing Field members of staff, for their efforts over the course of another successful year for the charity. A tremendous impact continues to be made by our small team. Each year, the experiences of so many disabled sports fans across England & Wales improve, as a result of their knowledge, care and dedication. It is also important to recognise the contributions of our Trustees. The wealth of expertise and consideration they volunteer, complements the dedication of a highly motivated staff team. On a representative level, we have also been pleased to welcome Roy Hodgson as a Patron this year. Roy is respected throughout football and the support of the former England manager will prove invaluable for us. The visibility of the charity once again received a boost through the Weeks of Action campaign. There was a return to normality, with high levels of in-person activity at stadiums around the country and an opportunity for our staff to make physical visits. This year has also featured numerous reminders of why our work continues to be so necessary. None was more striking than the UEFA Champions League Final, with disabled Liverpool fans treated unacceptably at another showpiece event. Our staff were in discussions with Liverpool Disabled Supporters’ Associations throughout and wrote to UEFA and the Sports Minister in the aftermath, receiving responses from both. It is now important that these events are learned from. P a g e 3 A n n u a l R e p o r t Next year will present new opportunities and challenges for Level Playing Field. We are in the process of developing a new long-term strategy for the charity and continue to strengthen our relationships with key stakeholders. There are also set to be further developments, on the back of the Government’s Fan Led Review. This is of significant interest to me, given the dramatic impact it could have on the politics of football as a whole, in this county. Provisions for disabled supporters should be considered throughout and we are keens to see how that is incorporated. 2022 will be another important year for Level Playing Field, where accessibility and inclusion for disabled fans will remain at the heart of everything we do. With best wishes, ## **David Bernstein CBE** P a g e 4 ## **Chair's report** ## Tony Taylor I am pleased to welcome you to our latest Annual Report, on behalf of the Board of Trustees at Level Playing Field. Our thanks go to our President, David Bernstein CBE, whom you have already heard from, as well as our Vice Presidents Lord Faulkner of Worcester and Lord Rosser of Ickenham, for their support of our work during another important year for the charity. We were deeply saddened this year, by the passing of our fellow trustee, Rex Burton. His honesty, wise counsel, and determination were a crucial part of Level Playing Field’s growth. His passion and drive to improves access and inclusion for disabled fans inspired us all. Rest in peace Rex, from the Board of Trustees at Level Playing Field, the wider team and every supporter that has had a better experience as a result of your devotion. Rex’s contribution in this space was felt far beyond his work as a trustee, with the legacy of his tireless work as MK Dons Disability Officer being clear to see through our Away Fans Survey, as the club was officially awarded English football’s ‘best away fan experience.’ The away fan survey was an important piece of research, which had some troubling findings. It revealed that over half of the disabled fans who do not currently attend away games had done previously. This suggests that many disabled supporters are now opting not to attend away games, with key barriers highlighted as poor views, being seated in the home end and the lack of disability awareness from other fans. These issues can all be rectified, and we are working towards this with clubs and disabled supporters’ associations (DSAs). A need for more education and awareness in the wider supporter community was also raised by the results of our second annual fan survey. The number of fans for whom ‘Attitudes of others is a barrier when attending live sport’ almost doubled from the 2021 results. The figure jumped from 15%, to 28.5% this year. This survey provides valuable evidence when we discuss the need for improvements with P a g e 5 A n n u a l R e p o r t clubs and governing bodies, while also allowing DSAs and individual fans to raise key concerns directly, while removing any misconceptions their experiences could be isolated. 1309 fans participated in the 2022 Level Playing Field annual fan survey, which was a slight reduction on the launch edition, as would be expected. We are keen to ensure this increases in 2023 however, to maintain the strength of our data and as next year will be key for assessing trends across the period. I would like to thank all the clubs that collaborated with us on surveys and campaigns throughout the year. While the findings will not always be complimentary for them, it is crucial that they still see the value and engage accordingly. We are also grateful to our funders, particularly the Premier League and EFL. Their financial support is essential to our ongoing work, as is their recognition of the need for a collective approach to improvements on access and inclusion. Interaction with governing bodies has been far worse on the European stage. The treatment of disabled supporters at the Champions League Final was unacceptable and we have been working with Liverpool DSA, politicians and the wider fan community to address that. We were invited to provide evidence to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee (DCMS) and also wrote to UEFA directly on two separate occasions. Our work to ensure the prioritisation of media over disabled supporters ends and considerations for disabled fans are brought to the forefront when planning these events will continue. Our thanks go to the fans and DSAs who support us with these battles and highlight the barriers they meet when watching live sport, as well as sharing the good practices they encounter. This expands our knowledge base beyond what would ever be possible internally and we will always seek out your insight. The staff team at Level Playing Field has grown this year, with the introduction of our new access auditor, David Moffat. This comes with the increased demand for audits, showing further commitments from venues to ensure they are suitable for disabled fans, and the regard in which Level Playing Field is held when it comes to carrying out audits and working with the relevant staff in the aftermath. P a g e 6 A n n u a l R e p o r t I am hugely thankful to our staff as a whole, for the work they have done throughout 2022, which has raised the voice of disabled fans. It was a relief that this year, more of that could once again be done in person and there was direct interaction with the fans their work is being done to assist. My final thanks, goes to my fellow trustees. Your hard work is certainly felt by me and I know likewise from all others at Level Playing Field. We continue to see development, year-on-year and I know that is a reward for each of you. Attending live sport is a significant force for good and its impact on a person’s wellbeing should never be taken for granted. It must be preserved and enhanced and that will continue to be our aim in 2023. ## **Tony Taylor** P a g e 4 A n n u a l R e p o r t # **About Level Playing Field** A n n u a l R e p o r t Level Playing Field is a registered charity in England and Wales, which acts as a campaigning and advisory organisation to its membership and other parties across all sports. We have a team of dedicated staff with specialist knowledge, skills and experience around issues concerning access and inclusion. Level Playing Field embraces ’the social model of disability’ and promotes the removal of barriers that might prevent a disabled spectator from attending or enjoying a live sports event. We want to ensure that disabled people enjoy an equality of experience as they attend live sport. Level Playing Field is driven to address the current inequality of experience for disabled fans attending live sport. Whether it's lack of choice, availability of tickets or a second-rate experience we use a proactive and constructive approach to tackle these and other issues. ## Our mission ## Our aims Level Playing Field promotes a positive, inclusive experience for disabled sports fans ## Our vision A world in which all disabled fans can freely access and enjoy live sporting events. - Providing support and advocacy for disabled sports fans. Offering advice, access audits and training to sports clubs and governing bodies. - Working with architects and design teams to ensure an inclusive and accessible physical environment at live sporting events. - Building relationships and partnerships with sports clubs, DSAs, fans and sector organisations. - Campaigning to keep the disability agenda top of mind for the government. P a g e 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t Level Playing Field delivers its work through four key pillars: **----- Start of picture text -----**
For the Fans
For the Clubs
Knowledge Centre
Campaigns
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Putting it simply, Level Playing Field campaigns and works towards improving the matchday experience for disabled fans by driving an equal matchday experience. ## Why we do what we do ## It is estimated that 50% of disabled people don’t take part in recreational or physical activity. The barriers to why a disabled fan chooses not to attend live sport can be addressed through training, raising awareness, and updating facilities and services. Last year, Level Playing Field received hundreds of enquiries and complaints and we aim to address these common recurring issues. P a g e 1 0 A n n u a l R e p o r t ## Level Playing Field are guided by the following principles: - Anti-discrimination – so that disabled people do not face discrimination arising from poor or misinformed practice. - Equality of opportunity or making things fairer – for disabled people in every aspect of their contact with sports clubs and venues. - Increasing the independence and choices that disabled people have. - Individual requirements / diversity – recognising that a disabled person is an individual who, like all others, has his or her own requirements, abilities, human rights and responsibilities. - Integration/inclusion – such that services are made accessible to disabled people and offer choice. - Involvement in decision-making – so that disabled people, and/or their advocates, are consulted before decisions that affect them are made. - The social model of disability, which explains that it is social and physical ‘barriers’ that cause ‘disability’, not impairments. Level Playing Field is working to remove the barriers that currently exclude disabled people. These barriers can be prejudice and stereotypes, the way things are organised and run, along with little to no access to information, buildings and transport. Annual Report Knowledge Centre ## Away fan survey As the leading charity for disabled sports fans in England and Wales, Level Playing Field receives hundreds of comments, enquiries, complaints and match reviews from disabled supporters each year. Through reading and responding to these comments, we've seen time and time again how different the matchday experience often is for disabled away fans, compared to home fans. We wanted to hear more from disabled supporters about their experience of attending away matches and investigate how widespread the discrepancy between the home and away matchday experience is. The survey was conducted online and was sent out to disabled supporters through Disabled Supporters Associations (DSAs), club contacts and also via social media. The survey was live for a month, running from Thursday 6th January through to Sunday 6th February 2022. Responses were anonymous unless the respondent chose to give their name. The results presented in this survey summary will be used to advise clubs on how best to support the disabled away fans who visit their stadiums. It will also be used to advise governing bodies, DSAs and non-disabled supporter groups. P a g e 1 3 A n n u a l R e p o r t ## **Key findings** ## Barriers to attending 48% of respondents said that a poor view of the match was a barrier for them attending away matches. The next two most common barriers for disabled fans were not being seated with their own fans (28%) and difficulty purchasing tickets (25%). ## Disability Abuse 43% of the disabled respondents said they had experienced some form of abuse or negative attitude at an away game in the last 5 years. ## Declining attendance Over half of the disabled fans who don't currently attend away games said that they had done previously. The number one provision these fans said that they needed to be available was better/more accessible parking. ## Toilet Facilities On average, respondents rated 'toilet quality' as being between poor and adequate for away matchdays - notably lower than other categories. P a g e 1 4 ## Annual fan survey Level Playing Field is a registered charity in England and Wales that exists to improve the experience of disabled spots fans attending live matches and sports events. As a campaigning and advisory organisation, we work with both fans and organisations across all sports to help drive these improvements. One of the key ways that we do this is by engaging with disabled spectators to better understand their experiences and to ask what they require on matchdays. The annual survey helps us to gather this information and is our biggest survey each year, with over 1000 disabled sports fans participating. This is the second year the survey has been conducted. The survey was conducted using SurveyMonkey and was sent out to disabled supporters through Disabled Supporters Associations (DSAs), club contacts and also via social media. The survey was live for a month, running from Tuesday 5th July through to Friday 5th August 2022. Responses were anonymous unless the respondent chose to give their name. This summary report details the results of the survey and compares many of these results with last year's findings. Throughout this report, the term 'pp' will be used as an abbreviation for percentage points when comparing percentages. For example, an increase from 10% last year to 15% would be 'Up 5pp'. The results of the survey will be used to advise clubs on how best to improve the matchday experience of disabled fans. It will also be used to advise governing bodies, DSAs and non-disabled supporter groups on disability access & inclusion. P a g e 1 5 A n n u a l R e p o r t ## **Key findings** ## Attitudes of others The amount of fans for whom ‘Attitudes of others is a barrier when attending live sport’ has almost doubled. The figure jumped from 15% in 2021 to 28.5% this year. ## Anxiety barriers Over a quarter of disabled fans said that 'anxiety or lack of confidence is a barrier when attending live sport'. This was an increase from last year - rising from 24.5% to 26.5% - despite covid-19 restrictions abating. ## Ticketing difficulties There was also a significant increase in the number of fans for whom 'difficulty purchasing tickets' was a barrier. This rose from 17% of fans in 2021 to 24% this year. ## Inaccessible Venues The number of disabled fans who said they are unable to attend certain sports or sporting venues due to lack of accessibility has increased to 36.5%. This is a significant increase from 30.5% in 2021. P a g e 1 6 A n n u a l R e p o r t ## **Club ratings - Nationwide** We asked respondents "Overall, how would you rate sports stadiums / clubs in England and Wales on access and inclusion?" The chart below shows the results. ## **Figure 6: Accessibility ratings for stadiums in England and Wales** - Non-existent **– 0.5%** (Unchanged) Very poor **– 4.5%** (Down 1pp) Poor **– 18.5%** (Up 1.5pp) Adequate **– 33.5%** (Up 2.5pp) Good **– 29%** (Down 2.5pp) Excellent **– 8%** (Down 0.5pp) Don't know **– 5.5%** (Down 1pp) Overall, fans gave an average rating between ‘Adequate’ and ‘Good’, which is the same as last year. However there was a decrease in the number of fans who rated access and inclusion as 'good' and a similar size increase in the number of fans who rated it as 'adequate'. Whilst these changes are fairly small, this is clearly a shift in the wrong direction, as we would hope to see access and inclusion improving each year at stadiums in England and Wales. P a g e 1 7 Annual Report Campaigns A n n u a l R e p o r t ## Weeks of Action Weeks of Action returned with fans back in stadiums for the charity's 18th Weeks of Action campaign since its launch in 2005. Level Playing Field continued its year on year growth in engagement across both club participation and in the digital sphere, with over 100 clubs, disabled supporters associations, organisations and partners supporting the campaign and its message: For Disabled Sports Fans. Level Playing Field ambassador and three-time Paralympic Champion Stephen Miller helped launch the campaign in February 2022, writing to clubs to ask for their continued support once more. A n n u a l R e p o r t ## The Manchester Derby In another Weeks of Action campaign that saw over 100 clubs and organisations take part, the Premier League had the biggest increase in support from the previous year. Man City dedicated their match against Man United to the campaign, and club staff met with a handful disabled supporters to hear about how they are enjoying being back. “I would like to thank the access team for making me feel comfortable returning to the stadium, and for their efforts to make my matchday experience as easy and comfortable as possible,” life-long season ticket holder Lynn Ratcliffe said. She and her assistance dog, Simba, were particularly pleased to be back at the stadium on derby day. Lynn expressed the importance of Level Playing Field’s commitment to improving the accessibility of stadia across the UK, and also mentioned how its website helps her to find important accessibility information for the grounds she visits on her travels with the Club. A n n u a l R e p o r t ## Social media The charity enjoyed another successful campaign across our social media platforms, and the below stats highlight how far the it has come over the years, spreading the positive work done to improve better accessibility and inclusion for disabled fans far and wide. **766,000** **74,400** **1,431** **impressions** **profile visits** **mentions** **46%** **116%** **85%** rise in rise in impressions profile visits compared compared to 2020 to 2021 rise in mentions compared to 2020 P a g e 2 1 **----- Start of picture text -----**
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+79%
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+26%
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250+ badges
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A n n u a l R e p o r t # **UEFA Champions League Final** A n n u a l R e p o r t ## Media day On May 24 - in the week ahead of the Champions League Final - Level Playing Field wrote to UEFA to ask ‘why only 14% of available wheelchair user spaces have been offered to disabled supporters who might require this accessible space.’ Liverpool Football Club were allocated only 38 wheelchair user spaces for the Champions League final at the Stade de France in Paris and understanding was that Real Madrid were allocated the same amount. This meant only 76 spaces in total. There are 550 wheelchair user spaces available at the Stade de France, so only 14% were to both sets of fans. Level Playing Field understand that some spaces have not been sold due to poor infrastructure and asked UEFA to clarify this, and whether that meant UEFA believed that the 474 spaces not being sold were not fit for purpose. UEFA were also asked for assurances that those wheelchair user spaces were not used for camera/media positioning or given to corporate partners that do not have a disability. What was provided in total to Liverpool and Real Madrid was just over 0.1% of the overall capacity of Stade de France. This is entirely unacceptable. The charity made it clear, that any future finals and tournaments needed to look to provide, not withhold. Questions were also raised about the stadium, which is set to host the Summer Olympics and Paralympics in 2024. P a g e 2 4 A n n u a l R e p o r t ## UEFA response On May 25th, Level Playing Field received a response from UEFA's Football and Social Responsibility division (FSR) thanking Level Playing Field for the email but stating that. UEFA “acknowledge the situation and states that we (UEFA) agree that the number of seats available to disabled and low mobility supporters is insufficient. We (UEFA) constantly work to ensure the best possible conditions to eliminate barriers to access to UEFA competitions matches.” “Due to operational challenges, linked in particular to the change of venue for the final on short notice (Stade de France replaced Saint Petersburg only on February 25th), UEFA was able to assign 93 wheelchair positions (76 allocated to the fans of the two clubs) which fulfil the quality sightlines UEFA aims to offer to disabled spectators.” “For an event of this size, UEFA would usually aim to identify a higher number of positions, but due to operational constraints (e.g. security, poor view, etc.) and the short preparation time, it was not possible to implement optimal solutions for more wheelchair positions. "Regardless of this year’s specific situation, we will continue to work to improve accessibility to UEFA’s matches.” Level Playing Field responded to UEFA, thanking them for their response, but sharing disappointment that questions were not directly answered, UEFA confirmed that there was insufficient space for disabled fans, which raised further questions on their criteria for major international final hosts. They also failed to provide assurances that any available wheelchair user spaces were not used for camera/media positioning. This went on to be the case. The charity called on UEFA to look to work more closely with disabled fans and experts when selecting stadiums and organising future events. P a g e 2 5 ## **After the final** **Level Playing Field's Fans Liaison Officer, Liam Bird, wrote to UEFA following the mistreatment of disabled fans at the final. In it he urged the governing body to expand its review and an excerpt can be found below:** Level Playing Field welcomes the fact that UEFA has commissioned an independent report into the scenes outside the ground at the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid. But we call on UEFA to widen this review into why wheelchair user spaces were used to house media and potentially corporate guests. As you know, UEFA only provided 96 wheelchair user spaces (38 provided to Liverpool and 38 to Real Madrid and the remainder on general sale out of the 550 available). For UEFA to provide such minimal allocation for wheelchair users and instead allocate to media is shameful. We would like to see the review ask: - If disability inclusion was ‘factored in’ when choosing the final stadium for this year’s tournament? - Why was a stadium that UEFA themselves stated had operational constraints “sight lines” and also possible “security” considerations, chosen to host a major international final? - Why did UEFA exclude disabled football fans from a major tournament to benefit media and corporate guests? - Is there a cultural issue at UEFA towards the safety and also the inclusion of fans? Following the Euro 2020 final the UEFA president issued inappropriate remarks that were not accurate. He stated he hadn’t seen issues at Wembley, and it was a nice final. This coupled with what we have witnessed at the Stade de France paints a concerning picture. Will this be considered in the review also? Click here for news article relating to the comments. UEFA needs a full review into how they view and support disabled football fans’ inclusion and safety. Disabled voices need to be part of any review because at the moment, in the eyes of many disabled supporters, #EqualGame needs an asterisk at the end: *Unless you are a supporter with a disability. A n n u a l R e p o r t ## Communication with Government ## **Chair of Level Playing Field, Tony Taylor, wrote a letter to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, which can be found below:** I am sure you are aware that Level Playing Field (a registered charity) actively campaigns and represents the views of disabled fans across a number of sports. The majority of our work is, of course, football-based. May I say I welcome your comments regarding the appalling scenes we witnessed at the Champions League Final. We are grateful for your request to UEFA for a full and thorough investigation of what could have potentially been a catastrophic sequence of events. We have now seen crowd trouble at two major finals (Euro 2020 and the Champions League Final). Unfortunately, it was reported that disabled fans were caught up in the issues witnessed pre-game at both of these major sporting events. We wish to ensure that relevant questions and observations around disabled fans’ safety are appropriately made and considered, and we would be pleased to discuss this with you. We also wish to raise another serious issue with you relating to the Champions League Final. The Stade de France capacity for wheelchair users is 550 spaces. For the final, UEFA allocated a paltry 38 spaces for Liverpool and Real Madrid. Additionally, some wheelchair user spaces were sold directly by UEFA to nonLiverpool or Real Madrid fans making the total available wheelchair space at a major European final equate to just 93 spaces. This left 457 Wheelchair user spaces unaccounted for. We had serious concerns with this and raised several questions and requested assurances from UEFA ahead of the final. We are aware that UEFA deemed certain spaces as not fit for purpose. Some of the questions we posed to UEFA included the following. We understand from speaking to our associates at the Centre for Access to Football in Europe (of which I am also a director) that tickets for some of the spaces are not being sold due to poor infrastructure. Does this mean that UEFA considers that 474 spaces of the 550 wheelchair user spaces at the Stade de France are not fit for purpose? P a g e 2 7 A n n u a l R e p o r t May we please have your assurances that these wheelchair user spaces are not being used for camera/media positioning or given to corporate partners that do not have a disability? Level Playing Field considers that it would be far more appropriate to invest in delivering more accessible spaces – especially for a final of this magnitude – rather than restricting the rights of disabled people to attend by reducing the capacity. We fully understand that the match was transferred to Paris at relatively short notice, given events in Ukraine, but the stadium in Paris is a significant one, and we would expect it to be fit for purpose, particularly for a country that is presumably in the final stages of preparations for the Olympic Games. ## _**UEFA's response was then shared.**_ We specifically asked UEFA again why was it that 457 wheelchair user spaces at the Stade de France were not fit for purpose? We have also asked if disability inclusion was ‘factored in’ when choosing the final stadium for this year’s tournament? We appreciate that the situation in Russia has caused issues; however, the final is being hosted in a stadium that even UEFA consider to have “insufficient” wheelchair user spaces. UEFA has chosen a stadium which boasts 550 Wheelchair user spaces; however, it would seem only 96 are fit four purposes. They state ‘it’s not possible to ‘implement optimal solutions. Finally, UEFA did not provide any assurances that wheelchair user spaces were not being used for camera/media positioning or given to corporate partners that may not have a disability? UEFA rightly promote their #EqualGame campaign to promote a vision that everyone should be able to enjoy football. Their actions – or inaction – regarding this year's Champions League final suggests that #EqualGame means Equality, provided you are not disabled. We are sure that, like us, you will have seen evidence that wheelchair bays were being used for the press and media the final, evidence was shared, indicating that wheelchair bays were being used for press and media, something that UEFA could have declared to us in advance had they been so minded. I know that you are in contact with UEFA about events at the final, but I would ask you to raise our concerns as it is clear that disabled Liverpool fans, in particular, were not considered and discriminated against. P a g e 2 8 A n n u a l R e p o r t ## Dear Tony, Thank you for your correspondence of 30 May to the Secretary of State for UEFA response Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the Rt Hon Nadine Dorries MP, regarding the UEFA Champions League Final 2022. I am replying as the Minister for Sport. On May 25th, Level Playing Field received a response from UEFA's Football and Thank you for raising your concerns. We were appalled by the terrifying and Social Responsibility division (FSR) thanking Level Playing Field for the email but potentially dangerous conditions experienced by many Liverpool fans at the stating that. Champions League and I am shocked and concerned by what has come to light. We welcome the fact that UEFA has commissioned an independent investigation,UEFA “acknowledge the situation and states that we (UEFA) agree that the number of seats available to disabled aand issued an apology to fans who atte **nd** low mobility supporters is insufficient.ed the final. We (UEFA) constantly work to ensure the best possible conditions to eliminate barriers to access to UEFA competitions matches.” The French Government has also commissioned a review of the delivery of the event and will also be supporting the UEFA investigation. I met with Minister “Due to operational challenges, linked in particular to the change of venue for the Oudéa-Castéramet earlier this month and we will continue to work closely with final on short notice (Stade de France replaced Saint Petersburg only on February the relevant authorities and Liverpool FC, noting the specific issues you have 25th), UEFA was able to assign 93 wheelchair positions (76 allocated to the fans raised with regards to disabled access. of the two clubs) which fulfil the quality sightlines UEFA aims to offer to disabled spectators.” The government recognises the great importance of getting disabled people to “For an event of this size, UEFA would usually aim to identify a higher number oftake part in sport and physical activity both as participants and as spectators. positions, but due to operational constraints (e.g. security, poor view, etc.) and the We recognise there are barriers which exist and prevent some people from taking short preparation time, it was not possible to implement optimal solutions for part, and we want to continue to do all that we can to tackle these. We will more wheelchair positions. continue to work with our arm’s length bodies and sector partners to encourage sport bodies to make sport more accessible. "Regardless of this year’s specific situation, we will continue to work to improve accessibility to UEFA’s matches.” As you will be aware, the government expects all sports and all clubs to take the necessary action to fulfil their legal obligations under the Equality Act of 2010 to make reasonable adjustments so that disabled people are not placed at a substantial disadvantage when accessing sports venues. The reasonable adjustment duty is an anticipatory duty because it is owed to disabled people in general. This means that owners of stadia are expected to anticipate the requirements of disabled customers and the adjustments that may have to be made for them, so that disabled people can access the service or facility in question. Thank you again for your letter. I hope this response has been helpful. **Nigel Huddleston MP Minister for Sport, Tourism, Heritage and Civil Society.** P a g e 2 9 Annual Report The Team Grows A n n u a l R e p o r t ## Dave Moffat joins as new Access Auditor Following a period of growth, Level Playing Field appointed a new full time Access Auditor to join the access team. Dave Moffat officially joined in April and his role involves undertaking Access Audits on Sports stadia throughout the country. Dave graduated from Northumbria University in 2019 with a degree in Building Surveying and is currently working towards his NRAC accreditation. He has been a building surveyor for over 20 years, specialising and training in accessibility over the last five years. He is passionate about accessibility and sport. Level Playing Field General Manager and Head of Access Ruth Hopkins said: “Following a period of growth at Level Playing Field we are delighted to welcome Dave to the team. “His experience and love of sport will be invaluable and we know he is looking forward to undertaking access audits and design appraisals at different sports venues across the country.” Dave enjoys all sports having participated in football, rugby, cricket and hockey amongst others and has recently taken up walking football, which he really enjoys. He has managed adult and junior football teams, including his sons football team from under 9s through to under 19s. Dave is a lifelong Newcastle United fan and follows all his local sports teams. P a g e 3 1 ## **Roy Hodgson CBE joins as Patron** Level Playing Field was delighted to announce former England manager Roy Hodgson CBE is to be its Patron. An influential figure in the game, boasting an impressive coaching career, Roy began his career in Sweden and went on to manage clubs with great success across Europe and, of course, in the Premier League. During his illustrious career in football management, he has coached national teams including Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Finland, and of course, England. He led the Three Lions to three major international tournaments, including the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, as well as Euro 2012 and Euro 2016. Roy supported Level Playing Field’s Weeks of Action campaign in 2021 when in charge of Premier League side Crystal Palace. Tony Taylor, Chair of Level Playing Field, said: “We are delighted to welcome Roy as our new Patron. “He joins us at an exciting time for the charity. The power of attending live sport should never be underestimated and the opportunity to participate in the beautiful game, in however you choose, should be available to all. “His footballing achievements are inspiring, and I am confident his appointment will have a decisive influence on Level Playing Field moving forward.” Level Playing Field’s President, David Bernstein CBE, himself a former Chair of the Football Association, said: “It is great for us to have Roy on board. “The legacy he has in football and sport is admirable and will be integral as the charity continues to work towards future missions and aims.” Roy said: “I am really proud to join Level Playing Field as their new Patron. “The work it does is vital in ensuring disabled sports fans are rightly included and have an equal opportunity to watch football and other sports. “Over my years managing, I have looked up into the stands and have seen visible improvements in infrastructure as well as in stadium facilities for disabled fans but clearly there is a lot more to do.” P a g e 3 2 Annual Report Level Playing Field A n n u a l R e p o r t ## A year in review As 2022 drew to a close year, we took a look back on a significant year for Level Playing Field. The review can be seen in full on the charity's website. We saw disabled fan representation in the English parliament and the French Senate. There were biggest-of-their-kind disability fan surveys that provided mixed results regarding access and inclusion of disabled sports fans. Late in the year, Gianni Infantino’s ‘I Feel’ speech served as a stark reminder that there is a lot of work to do to educate disabled and non-disabled people regarding disability inclusion and that we must continue to do more to ensure the voices of disabled fans are elevated. . A n n u a l R e p o r t **January** Away Fan Survey launched ## **February** Weeks of Action kicks-off ## **March** Huddersfield open inclusion room ## **April** Dave Moffat joins Level Playing Field ## **May** Cath Dyer named EFL Supporter of the Year ## **June** UEFA urged to expand independent review P a g e 3 5 A n n u a l R e p o r t ## **July** Matchday supporter guide launched ## **August** MK Dons win Best Away Fan Experience ## **September** See Sport Differently support for RNIB ## **October** Transport for All given podcast platform ## **November** Annual Fan Survey results published ## **December** Unite For Access launched P a g e 3 6 A n n u a l R e p o r t ## Staff ## Owain Davies Chief Executive ## Ruth Hopkins General Manager & Head of Access and Development - NRAC Auditor ## Nicky Baker Access and Development Officer - NRAC Auditor ## Daniel Townley Development Officer ## Liam Bird Fans Liaison Officer ## Ben Southby Media and Communications Officer P a g e 3 7 A n n u a l R e p o r t ## Trustees Tony Taylor Chair Steve Evans Secretary Joanna Deagle Trustee Jo McNicol Trustee Jamie Beddard Trustee P a g e 3 8 A n n u a l R e p o r t ## **A word from the Chief Executive** Owain Davies Thank you for taking the time to read this annual report. I hope that through it, you have seen the value that our staff and network of disabled fans have provided, in our mission to improve access and inclusion. 2022 has been a year of many successes for us as a charity but has seen further concerns raised. The horrific events at the UEFA Champions League Final, following the failures we saw at the Euro 2020 Final, serve as a clear warning. More must be done to protect fans and the current disregard for their welfare cannot be tolerated. Our key campaigns had so much life in them this year. Two major surveys focused on the why watching live sport is so important and areas to improve, while ‘Weeks of Action’ was centred around the return of fans. A personal favourite moment from the ‘Weeks of Action’ campaign, was the implementation of British Sign Language at the Carabao Cup Final for the national anthem. Interpreters wore Level Playing Field branding, providing an important service for disabled fans, as well as visibility within the wider crowd. We are excited to see this grow and looking ahead to next year, we are cannot wait to see what impact the name change to ‘Unite For Access’ will have on the campaign. P a g e 3 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t The second year of our annual fan survey has once again provided us with key areas to target. Our away fan survey results also gave us a different set of data and backed up many of the points we have been raising. Nearly 50% of respondents said that poor views were barriers to attending away matches, while 28% of respondents have stated that not being in the away end with their own fans contributed to a poor away matchday experience. We also saw very concerning responses in terms of abuse and negative attitudes, which we are pushing for more action to be taken on. A positive side of the results was that it allowed us to recognise the efforts on MK Dons, who received the best appraisals from disabled fans. This year also saw us increase direct support for fans, with the creation of a guide for first-time football fans and Personal Assistants. Support for clubs has also been provided, with 12 disability access officer round table meetings and ongoing expert advice sharing. Our vast work throughout this year would not be possible without support from the Premier League and the EFL, which we are very grateful for. I am also hugely thankful to all of the Disabled Supporters’ Associations and clubs that have collaborated with us. My biggest thanks though, goes to my fellow staff. They frequently go above and beyond in their efforts to improve access and inclusion. I know they see the rewards in our work, so I am pleased that we have been able to achieve so much together over the last 12 months. P a g e 4 0 **Level Playing Field The Junction Station Road Watford WD17 1ET** **01923 545 370 info@levelplayingfield.org.uk levelplayingfield.org.uk** **@lpftweets @levelplayingfielduk /lpftweets** evel Playing Company Number- 11109719 Charity Number: 1177415 LEVEL PLAYING FIELD OIRECTORS. REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2022 LEVEL PLAYING FIELD INDEX PAGES CHARITY REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT (INCL DIRECTORS, REPORTI 2- 5 INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS. REPORT STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES BALANCE SHEET NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 9-16 Page 1 LEVEL PLAYING FIELD CHARITY REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE OETAILS CHARITY NUMBER. 1177415 COMPANY NUM8ER'. 11109719 TRUSTEESIDIRECTORS.. A Taylof (Chair) S Evans J McNicc4 R Burton lunlil 5 January 20221 J Oeagle {re5￿fted 13 March 20231 J Beddar COMPANY SECRETAR Y. S Evans REGISTERED OFFICE Greville House 10 Jvry Sireet Warwick Warwi¢k$hire CV34 4EW PRINCIPAL ADDRESS., The JunCt￿n Station Road Watford 17 1ET INDEPENDENT EXAMINER: Mark Hawyod FCA BFP F￿T Michael HaTh￿ & Co GreVIl￿ House 10 Jury Street Warwick wan￿l¢k$h1re CV34 4EW Page 2 LEVEL PLAYING FIELD TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT IINCL DIRECTORS, REPORT} The Trustees present their report and the financial statements ol the charrty for the year ended 3151 December 2022. The Trustees have adopted the PTOVlSions of the Statement of Recommended Practice ISORPI-Accounting and Reporting by Charities" In preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity. STRUCTURE. GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT Level Play1ng Field. a charitable company Iimrted by guarantee Icompany no. 11109719 and Charity no. 11774151. was incorporated on the 13tr. December 2017 and is governed by Memorandum and Articles of Association. The diredors of the charitable company Iwho are i(s Iruslees for the purposes of charity lawl have no interest in the company's assets or surplus and receive no remuneration. The DioctOrs￿rUsteeS meet at least once a qvarter and are actNety invofved in the St￿e91¢ direction of the charity. Level Playing Field 15 8n inclusive emptjyer and actively promotes the positive impaci of having a diverse worklOr￿ and trustee board Level Playing Field has signed up to the Disabilty Confident Scheme This commitment allows Level Playing Field lo a¢¢uralely and responsibly represent the communrty It serves Trustees a￿ recrurted and appointed in line with best pra¢li¢e using ljoth Internal and external sources_ A business continuation policy is in place and the Tnjstees constantly review potential risks, producing plans Incorporating financial. operational and Strateg￿ Options lo react lo changing circumstances should they occui based on detailed risk assessment. The Charty works on a collaborative basis with several charities. including the Wheelchair Football A550ciation with which a partnership agreement was signed In 2021. The Chanty also works closely with the Centre tor Access to Football in Eurcye. bul has no formal agreements or links In situ. OBJECTS AND ACTIVITIES Level Playing Field adopts and promotes the sc￿￿1 rn￿e1 ofdisabilrty. in whith disabilty is viewed as a Social issue and that an Individual onty becomes disabled a5 a result of the social, attitudinal and environmental barriers Ihal the indivKlual faces. The Charity is focused on rerrK)ving these barriers in all sports. Level Playing Field land its membership) is commirted to achieving an environment where. all lans can enjoy an equal experience at live sports events all stadia and sports venues are fulty accessible and inclusNe all customer andlor fan services afe equal and incluswe disabled people are seen as customers wrth a commercial value The Charity is guided by the following princip￿s.. anli-discnmination- so that disabled people do not face discrimination arising from pcx)r or misinfomied Pfacli equality of opportunty and faimess- foi disabled people in every aspect of Iheif contact with sports clubs and venues increasing the Independen￿ and choi¢es offered lo disabled people individual requirements recryJnisin9 that a disabled person is an indmdual who, in a diverse society. has his or her own requirements. abil(ties. human nghls and responsibilrties inlegrationlinclusK)n offer a choice involvement in decision-making so that disabled people. andlor their advocates, are consulted before decisions which affect them are maije acknowledgement of the social Model of disabilty wh￿h explains that rt is Social and physical barriers that cause 'disability' not impairments. such that ServI￿S are made accessible to disabled people and Page 3 LEVEL PLAYING FIELD DIRECTORS. REPORT (Continued) Level Playing Field is working to remove the barriers that currentty exclude disabled people, including. prqudice and Stereotypes the way things are organised and njn lack oflinadequate acce55 10 inlomia1￿n, buildings and transport The Dlrectots￿rU$1eeS have had due regard to the guKlance publtshed by The Charty Commission on public benefrt in managing the activities of the Charrty. The main activrties of the Charity during the year were as follows la mre detsiled summary of Ihe charity's actsvrties can be found in the Annual Report)". Fan Engagement 2022 was a busy period for Level Playing F*kl.' fans were back w*ching INe sport and attention was on watching live SF4)rts in the Stands. There wefe a number ol key areas of work which were untjertaken. pod¢asts. this conlinue(I lo reach lans across the country and beyond wrth rnonthly episodes released focusing on a range ol lopics from LPF survay iesulls lo the away match experience. fan forums. continued virtually with good attendance A number of forurns took the opportunity lo locus on underrepresenled disabililies and provide education and awareness amongst fellow lans. in 2022 Level Playing Field was pleased to award MK Dons with the 'Best away fan experience. as voted by fans Disabled Supporters Associations. support and guidance were provided aeross the season wrth further support in the establishment of rth¥ Disabled Supporters Asso¢kgiion¥. Champlons League Final 2022 On¢8 again in 2022 there was a major final and another m8J'or incident occurred. This lime il was the Champions League final at Slade de France where Liverpool played Real Madrid. The scenes outside the stadiums were lerrrfying lo see and even more so lor the lan6 caught up in il We have now seen cr¢)wd trouble at major finals IEuro 2020 and the Champions League Finall Unfortunately. il was reported that disabled lans We￿ caught up in the Issues witnessed pre-game at both of these major sporting evenls. We wish lo ensure that relevant questions and observation$ about disabled fans. safety are appropiiately made and considered. and we would be p￿aSed to work with aulhorrties lo ensure this doesn't happen again. SuTheys Our knowledge centre pillar ofwork has been vrtal throughout 2022 as we were able to gather real life experience5 and used that Inlomiation to bring about Change. Throughout the year, the Charity had over 1900 fans take part In two Level Playing Field surveys IAway Fan Survey and Annual Fan Survey). Some of the key findings which will shape the Charity's work going forward are.. Annual Fan Survey 2022 Ihe amount of fans lor whom 'AttrtLKles of others is a barrier when attending live sport, has almost doubled. The figure jumped from 15% in 2021 10 28 5% this year. over a quarter of disabled lans said that 'anxiety or lack of confidence is a barrier when attending live sport,. This was an Increase last year- rising from 24.svo to 26 50A _ despite covid-19 restrictions a￿Ing there was also a significant increase in the number of fans lor whom 'drficutty purchasing tickets, was a barrier. This Tose from 170A of fans in 2021 to this year. Page 4 LEVEL PLAYING FIELD DIRECTORS, REPORT {Continuedl the number of disabled fans who said they a￿ unable lo attend certain sports or Sporting venues due to lack of ac¢e55ibilily has increased lo 36.5Q/ts. This is a significant Increase from 30.50h in 2021 Away Fan Survey early 50D/D of respondents said that poor views were barriers lo attending away matches while 28°/0 of respondents have slated that not being in the away end with their own fans contr5bul&d lo a poor away malchday experience. an additional 23,/0 said that the lack of disability awareness from other fans ¢onlribules lo a negative away day experience. the lack of disability awareness may have contributed lo the fact that 43°/0 of the disabled respondents stated that they had experien¢ed some form ol abuse or negative altitude al an away game in the last five years. Campaigns- Weeks ofAction The campaign wa5 very successful with signrficant buy-in by Clubs. Disabled Supporters Associations. Disabled Fans and governing bodies. 46QA rise in impressions (social rnedial 1160/0 rise in profile visils150cial medial 80+ clubs participated Clubs continued lo showcase their commitment lo making the game more inclusive and accessible for disabled fans through the seNi¢e they provide. A significant milestone this season look place al Wernbley Stadium. For the first lime in history, the National Anthem had a British Sign Language Interpreter. This watershed moment not only made the matchday experience more inclusive bLJt also raised essential awareness. In September 2022. Level Playing Field announced that the Weeks of A¢lion ¢8mpaign would be rebranded as 'Unile for Access, from 2023. FINANCIAL REVIEW The financial pos11ion ol the charity at 3151 December 2022, as more fully detailed in the accounts, can be summarised as follows.. 2022 2021 Net incomellexpenditurel 9.796 8.950 Unrestricted Revenue Fund5 available for the general purposes of the charity 196,207 186,411 Restricted Revenue Funds Total Funds 196.207 186,411 RESERVES POLICY The reserves policy is lo maintain a level of unrestricted reserve5 which covers 6-12 months of operating costs. Page 5 LEVEL PLAYING FIELD DIRECTORS, REPORT (Continued) The report of the dire¢tors has been prepared having taken advantage of the small companies, exemption in the C¢)mpanies Act 2006. On behaw of the board A Taylof Chair Date. 23 June 2023 Page 6 LEVEL PLAYING FIELD INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS, REPORT I report lo the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the year ended 31s1 December 2022 wh￿h are set out on pages 6 to 16. Responsibilities and basis of report As Ihe charty trustees ol the company land also rts