Level Playing Field, have this week announced their Access Audit accreditation and LPF Centre of Excellence Award. 

Clubs, stadiums and sporting venues that commission a professional LPF Audit and sign up to working with LPF towards meeting the minimum accessibility standards for sports stadia and venues (on match (or event) and non-match days) will be presented with an ‘LPF Audited’ accreditation and will be entitled to display the ‘LPF Audited’ logo as a demonstration of their commitment to improving access and inclusion standards. 

The LPF access audits are undertaken by peer reviewed professional NRAC auditors (National Register of Access Consultants and Auditors) and is conducted in line with UK legislation and sports stadia good practice guidance, including the UEFA and CAFE good practice guide – ‘Access For All’.

Those sporting venues and stadia that demonstrate the highest access and inclusion standards in accommodating disabled spectators and visitors on match (or event) and non-match days will be presented with the LPF Centre of Excellence Award. To qualify, the club or venue must first commission an LPF Audit and demonstrate that it meets the requirements of existing equality and access legislation, building regulations and accessible sports grounds and stadia good practice standards.

The first LPF Centre of Excellence awards are to be presented to Wembley National Stadium and to the Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal Football Club.

Wembley National Stadium Managing Director, Roger Maslin said of the award "WNSL is delighted to be joining forces with Level Playing Field moving forward. We share in their vision to ensure accessibility issues are addressed and that suitable solutions are identified and implemented. At the centre of Wembley Stadium's ethos is inspiring memories for our fans and as such we take great pride in providing the best customer experience for everyone at all our events".

John Beattie, Stadium and Facilities Director at Arsenal FC added, “We are extremely proud to have been recognised in this way. Our aim is to make our stadium a welcoming place for everyone who visits and this shows we are getting things right”.

Chair of Level Playing Field, Joyce Cook OBE, said, “We have been delighted by the success of the LPF Audit programme and the respect and recognition that our audits have gained across a range of sports. The programme has been delivered under the expert stewardship of Gary Deards, LPF’s Vice Chair and Stadia Development Lead, with audits undertaken by our professional LPF auditors (who specialise in sports stadia) and we are very proud of the high level of service and support that they are providing to our clients. It is also fitting that we should recognise those clubs and venues that have undergone a full LPF Audit and those that have achieved the highest standards as ‘Centres of Excellence’ in providing an inclusive and accessible fan experience. We hope that the new LPF audit awards will act as an inspiration to other clubs and venues”.

For more information about Level Playing Field, the Audit programme and the Centre of Excellence Award, please click here.

Published 16/11/2012