How Arsenal is empowering young disabled people through football: 'It's one of the best things you can do'

Jack has been an Arsenal fan since he was tiny – so donning the shirt and getting the chance to meet legends and stars of the team like Jack Wilshire and Reiss Nelson has been a dream.

Through Arsenal in the Community, the 18-year-old from Islington has had extraordinary opportunities to get involved with the club and play football over the last decade.

Jack started going to open-access football sessions with Arsenal in the Community for disabled young people after he was diagnosed with autism when he was in primary school.

“They’ve been amazing,” his mother Karen says. “It has helped him a lot.”

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A proud mum, Karen goes to each of the sessions Jack has at the Hale End youth academy, and she particularly enjoys watching him celebrate when he scores. “He’s done really well,” she adds.

Arsenal in the Community celebrates its 40-year anniversary in 2025, which it marked by hosting the annual Premier League Disability Festival on 2 August.

This pan-disability tournament hosted multiple different teams, each of which champion young people with disabilities. There were a range of activities, as well as appearances from players – including ex-Arsenal captain Per Mertesacker.

Freddie Hudson, head of Arsenal in the Community, says: “We’re delighted to bring the Premier League Disability Festival to our academy at Hale End – especially this year as we mark 40 years of Arsenal in the Community.

“Throughout that time we’ve strived to create a sense of belonging in our communities – a belonging that has built trust with so many groups ensuring a warm welcome into the Arsenal family. We’ve seen how powerfully this has worked across so many of our community programmes.”

Arsenal in the Community has dedicated accessibility projects, including its amputee football programme, deaf football project, its partnership with North London United to support young people with Down’s Syndrome, and its football sessions for adults with learning disabilities with charity Mencap. 

“Football is and should always remain accessible for everyone, and we were pleased to celebrate this with the Premier League and clubs across the country this weekend,” Hudson says.

For Jack, the tournaments have been some of the most exciting times in his football career. “They have been fun,” he says, adding that he has enjoyed “mixing with different people”.

But they have been “tricky” too. “We’ve played big teams like Man United,” Jack says. 

Living just a 15-minute walk away from the Emirates, Jack and his mum Karen get to matches whenever they can. He has loved meeting Arsenal players through the charity and is “desperate” to meet Declan Rice one day.

Jack’s grandfather had been a huge Arsenal fan and football had brought them close together. After his grandad died during the pandemic, Jack struggled to cope with his grief, but football helped him.

“When Covid hit and my dad passed away, getting [Jack] back into football was the best thing that happened. He got to be with the kids. That helped bring him out of it. It came back at the right time,” Karen says.

“I just think football is one of the best things you can do for your mental health, for exercise, to meet new people. If you can do it, do it. I’m so glad he got into it. It’s something that he loves. It is one of the best things that you’ve done,” adds Karen, turning to Jack, who agrees with an adamant: “Yeah.”

His mum continues: “I can’t thank them enough for all their support and everything they’ve done.”

Find out more about Arsenal in the Community, including how to support their work and get involved.

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