Fans for Diversity fund: Audio descriptive training at Ashington

Our Fans for Diversity fund has helped Ashington AFC, based in Northumberland, to train volunteers to help visually impaired supporters.

The Colliers have been delivering volunteer training focused on audio descriptive commentary, introducing a new initiative known as the audio descriptive companion.

Funded through the Fans for Diversity campaign fund and delivered by Alan March Sport, the training session equips volunteers with the skills to provide real-time, descriptive support to fans with visual impairments on matchdays.

The audio descriptive companion concept trains volunteers to provide live, informal descriptive commentary directly to supporters. The trained volunteers offer real-time insights into the action, atmosphere, and key moments on the pitch, creating a more inclusive match day experience.

Volunteers training in audio description at Woodhorn Lane

Fans for Diversity campaign manager Nilesh Chauhan said: “It’s pleasing to see non-league clubs looking to make matchdays more and more accessible to their local communities.

“Ashington’s audio descriptive training is another great example of a club overcoming the constraints of non-league to extend a warm welcome to more supporters.”

Ashington hope the scheme is successful and can be replicated elsewhere across the non-league system.

Club chair Nicola Sanders-Cooper said: “We may not have the resources for traditional commentary setups, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make football more welcoming for everyone.

“The audio descriptive companion is about people helping people and ensuring no supporter feels excluded.”

Want to fund activity at your supporter group or club?

Then we’d love to hear from you. We have a small grant fund to help with your ideas so if you would like to create an event, a project or start a supporter group then please contact Fans for Diversity campaign managers Hannah Kumari or Nilesh Chauhan.

Fans For Diversity is a campaign programme run in partnership between the FSA and Kick It Out. Fans For Diversity encourages, funds and supports initiatives by fan groups to promote diversity and inclusion in football, and to challenge all forms of discrimination.