Rationale for Constitional change

This years AGM will be held on the 7th November 2023 in the Players’ Lounge at the stadium, K.O. 7.30pm.  All are welcome. Please view the "WFC Enables Future Direction" document and the redrafted "Enables Constitution" below as a final version will be put to the AGM for approval.  

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WFC Enables Future Direction

Dear Members,

Following much thought, consideration, and discussion, I believe the time is right for the Enables Group to move from a structured association to being a supporters’ group and having representation on the club’s ‘We Allies’ Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) group, which is run by the club’s EDI Lead, Dave Messenger and Supporter Liaison Officer Chris Hall,

I would like to set out the reasons for this proposed change below.

In May of 2014 I became Chair of the Enables Group. The membership had dwindled to under 30 and the relationship with the club’s hierarchy was also at a low ebb. I set about changing both these issues.

On the 14th September in the following year the Premier League Clubs (including WFC at that time) unanimously agreed to achieve compliance with the Accessible Stadia Guide by August 2017.

Gino and Scott worked with our Enables Group and WFC became one of the few clubs to fully embrace those requirements over the next few years.  Today we are proud to be one of only a handful of Championship clubs and indeed Premier League clubs, to fully comply!

The Enables Group grew to nearly 200 members, however I now receive very little by way of complaints or issues concerning our own stadium or facilities, what does arrive is almost always to do with the inadequacies of disabled facilities in away stadiums.

In recent years it has become difficult to gain replacements for Enables Officers as I believe most feel we have served our purpose and now need a less formal level of representation.

With the advent of We Allies, of which the Enables Chair is already a member, it appears sensible for Enables representation on this body to be the main conduit to the club’s management.

The Enables mailing database and website will continue to be fully functional, and the Enables Chair will continue to share any feedback from disabled supporters directly to the club.

To enact such a change, I have attached the redrafted Enables Constitution for your comment and a final version will be put to our AGM.

This will be held on the 7th November in the Players’ Lounge at the stadium, K.O. 7.30pm.  All are welcome.

I would be pleased to receive any comments, suggestions etc concerning this proposal.

Kind regards

David

David Butler      WFC Enables Chair

To see the rationale for the change  click here