Ipswich Town Foundation is delighted to announce the launch of Beyond Labels: You Can, an employability programme for those with additional needs and SEN, co-designed by Colette Cavanagh.

Beyond Labels: You Can was made possible by the Premier League and Professional Footballers’ Association Players’ Fund.

Administered through the Premier League Foundation, the funding helps football club charities and player foundations to work with players to tackle inequality and respond to local challenges, supporting people and their communities to be more inclusive.

The Players’ Project aims to build stronger connections between players, communities and football clubs by putting players at the heart of local projects that help to address important societal issues.

Beyond Labels: You Can is a 12-week programme designed to provide those with additional needs and SEN with the knowledge, skills and confidence to be work-ready, as well as supporting local businesses to become Disability Confident employers.

Project delivery has commenced, with Colette leading sessions with eight participants, directly supporting their development. Across the sessions, each cohort will receive support on a range of topics including CV writing, workplace behaviour and conduct, and how to find employment.

“Beyond Labels: You Can is a massively important project, not just for me but for the club, the Foundation, and the local community,” said Colette Cavanagh.

“The project has been in development for a long time, and I’ve really enjoyed the process of working with Leanne and Lauren [Revill, Health & Inclusion Co-ordinator].”

“As players, we’ve all had different journeys in our careers, whether that’s in football or in jobs before playing. The impact that we can have in helping people in the community to reach their potential is so important and I’m delighted to be a part of it.”

Following consultation with current Beyond Labels participants, the Foundation spoke to local partners to understand the challenges in accessing employment for those with additional needs, with an employment gap for disabled people in Suffolk of 26%

“In building the project we identified a real issue in a lack of employment opportunities for people living with disabilities in Suffolk,” said Leanne Smith, Head of Community Engagement.

“Beyond Labels: You Can will hopefully allow us to make positive changes to address that, providing participants with the skills, knowledge and confidence to be employment-ready.”

“Co-designing the project with Colette has really highlighted her passion and enthusiasm for supporting those living with disabilities, and we’re excited to see all the hard work she’s put in come to life.”

To find out more about Beyond Labels: You Can, contact leanne.smith@itfcfoundation.co.uk.

For more on the Players’ Project fund, distributed by the Premier League Foundation, please visit premierleague.com.