Development of Sports Sections for People with Disabilities – Summary of the CSR in Sport Academy Webinar

The third webinar of the CSR in Sport Academy focused on a very specific and practical topic: creating and developing sports sections for people with disabilities.

Paweł Pietrzyk – coordinator of the Radomiak Futbol Plus project at the Radomiak Radom Foundation – shared his experience, showing how to build social initiatives in sport from the ground up.

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From Need to Action

The starting point for the project was a real gap in the local community. In Radom, there was a lack of sports activities for people with disabilities, especially in the form of team sports. This need became the driving force for action.

Initially, the plan was simple: to create one training group and see whether the initiative would attract interest.

Reality quickly verified these assumptions. Far more people signed up for the first training session than expected, demonstrating both the scale of the need and the project’s development potential.

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How to Build a Project Step by Step

One of the key takeaways from the webinar was that effective CSR initiatives are not created as large, complex projects from the outset.

In the case of Radomiak Futbol Plus, a phased approach proved crucial—starting small, testing solutions, and continuously adapting activities to participants’ needs. Gradual development and formalization were also important elements.

Over time, the project expanded to include more than a dozen training groups for people of different ages and levels of ability.

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Key Challenges

It was clearly emphasized that developing such initiatives comes with many challenges. The most important included:

• limited infrastructure and resources at the beginning,
• lack of experience in working with people with various disabilities,
• organizational and financial difficulties,
• communication challenges, requiring the involvement of specialists (e.g., sign language communication).

An important aspect was also working with parents, who often need time to build trust and allow their children greater independence.

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What Determined Success?

Despite numerous challenges, the project developed dynamically. Key factors included the team’s commitment and the passion of the coaches, as well as flexibility and a willingness to implement changes.

Building relationships with participants and their families was equally important, along with a “small steps” approach rather than large, high-risk actions.

Creating a community around the project also played a major role—one that included not only participants, but also their families, partners, and the local environment.

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Outcomes

The project delivered tangible results for both participants and the organization.

For participants, these included:

• increased physical activity,
• improved self-confidence,
• social integration,
• regular participation in activities.

From the organization’s perspective, the outcomes were:

• development of CSR activities,
• strengthened brand image,
• new partnerships,
• enhanced team competencies.

The project has also become an inspiration for other organizations, both in Poland and abroad.

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Value for the Wider Community

One of the most important broader impacts has been a shift in how people with disabilities are perceived.

Thanks to initiatives like this, sport is becoming a more open and accessible space, and people with disabilities are increasingly seen as active participants in social life.

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How to Get Started

At the end of the webinar, Paweł Pietrzyk presented three practical steps that can serve as a starting point for other organizations:

1. Start with a conversation – understand the needs of potential participants and the local community.
2. Launch a pilot – begin with a small group and simple activities to minimize risk.
3. Learn and adapt – collect feedback and develop the project based on experience.

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Summary

The third webinar of the CSR in Sport Academy showed that social initiatives in sport can have a very real impact—both on participants and entire communities.

The key takeaway? You don’t need large resources or ready-made solutions to start.

It’s enough to identify a need, take the first step, and consistently develop your activities while learning through practice.

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CSR in Sport Academy

The CSR in Sport Academy is a series of nine online sessions featuring practitioners from the sports industry. Each webinar offers concrete examples, experiences, and practical tips that can be implemented within organizations.

Next week, participants will meet another speaker—Miłosz Marchlewicz.

There are still six webinars ahead, and it’s not too late to join. Sign up!

If you couldn’t attend the webinar, you can catch up by watching the full recording. A complete transcript is also available, allowing you to revisit key insights and recommendations at any time.

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