Education, Sport | Posted on September 24th, 2025 | return to news

Poole football club to create new chances for young people

Poole Town FC and SWRAC have partnered to help young people with special education needs and disabilities access careers in the world of football.

A football club in Poole has partnered with a regional organisation to create chances for young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) to access careers in the world of football.

The South West Regional Assessment Centre (SWRAC) works with young people with SEND and those who are unable to attend mainstream schools. SWRAC has college sites in Dorchester, Boscombe, Winton and Merley, as well as three sites in Merseyside, which help 16–30-year-olds gain life skills, training and work experience.

Since starting in 1996, the organisation now supports around 200 young adults annually.

SWRAC have teamed up with Poole Town FC to promote a new campaign: #SayYEStoSEN. Poole Town will be joining a host of businesses in partnership with SWRAC. Young people from the college will have the opportunity to work in partnership with The Dolphins in roles such as groundskeeping, hospitality and marketing.

Adrian Gunner, managing director of SWRAC, said: “Poole Town FC is a football club at the very heart of its community, which prides itself on being fully inclusive. This shines through in everything it does and makes it a perfect partner for SWRAC and the young people we work with.”

SWRAC’s Lead Careers, Education, Information, Advice and Guidance Advisor Daniel Kerley said: “Two of our students from our Boscombe college site, Owen and Yamen, came down with Adrian and I to see the ground and meet Ben Edgell, the commercial manager. They left inspired and already thinking about just how much they can learn here through weekly work experience and assisting on match days.”

Poole Town’s Ben Edgell added: “Together, we’re looking forward to creating opportunities, building confidence, and inspiring the next generation. A huge thank you to everyone at SWRAC for partnering with The Dolphins this season.”

The scheme will be displayed across the club’s media advertising and grounds for the next two seasons.