Colin Power – Speaker at the 22nd EFDN Conference 

Colin Power – Speaker at the 22nd EFDN Conference 

Colin Power, Head of Community Development at Waterford FC, is a confirmed speaker at our 22nd EFDN ‘Making Football Matter’ Conference in Leuven on the 20th of November 2024.

Colin began his career in sales and spent years volunteering with various football clubs. Through a role jointly funded by Waterford FC and Healthy Ireland, he transitioned to the position of Football Social Responsibility Officer, where he now makes a powerful impact on the community. His work includes partnerships with Waterford Foodbank and a Community Kit Room in collaboration with Suir Engineering, but Colin highlights his autism-friendly initiatives as particularly meaningful.

Waterford FC is one of the shortlisted clubs for the More than Football Award 2024, recognized for its transformative Autism Football Community project. This initiative was launched in response to Waterford’s vision of becoming Ireland’s first autism-friendly city and the club’s commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for children and young people with autism and their families.

The Autism Football Community project’s core objectives include:

• Providing Inclusive Matchday Experiences: Offering a welcoming atmosphere that enables children with autism, along with their families, to comfortably attend and enjoy professional football matches.
• Creating Regular Opportunities for Football Participation: Allowing children and young people with autism to participate in weekly football sessions within a safe and secure environment, supported by trained club volunteer ambassadors with practical knowledge and understanding of autism.
• Supporting Waterford’s Autism-Friendly Vision: Contributing meaningfully to Waterford’s ambition of becoming Ireland’s first autism-friendly city by positioning Waterford FC as an accessible, autism-friendly club.

The project has received immense support and enthusiasm from the community and has made a lasting impact on families, many of whom are experiencing football for the first time. Waterford FC’s Head of Community Development, Colin Power, will present the project at the 22nd EFDN Conference, where he will share insights into its successes and future goals.

“There are many highlights like our partnership with Waterford Foodbank and our Community Kit Room in partnership with Suir Engineering, but our Autism Friendly projects have proved extremely impactful. Our Autism Friendly Matchday Experience enables kids and their families to come to the stadium who previously could not go. The establishment of our Quiet Room for kids who need a bit of time out during the games and our ASD Football Friends every Tuesday where we provide an hour of football for kids who would not get that chance without it.”

Register for the conference here!