Foundation of Light has recognised Isla Cameron as one of its Wear 25 award winners, following her call-up to the England U13s Deaf Futsal team.
Throughout their 25th anniversary year, Sunderland AFC’s official charity is highlighting the progress and achievements of participants through monthly awards.
Isla, aged just nine, has enjoyed a remarkable journey with the Foundation over several years, with her England call-up marking the latest milestone.
Her journey began after attending a Para Talent Hub event, where she worked with Foundation coaches before joining their football holiday courses. Initially, Isla found it challenging to integrate as the only deaf child in a mainstream session. However, she remained fully engaged in the football activities.
Making sessions inclusive is a key target for the Foundation and their coaches, and they would use whiteboard and speech to text apps to get messages across to Isla.
As her confidence grew, so did her ability on the pitch. Isla’s natural talent, combined with her passion for football, quickly became evident. She also built a strong social circle within the sessions, encouraging friends to join and forming new relationships beyond her immediate group.
Now more comfortable in new environments, Isla joined a local grassroots team, and after seeing her progress across sessions each half-term, Foundation coaches encouraged her to trial for the Female Player Pathway.
Isla was invited to join the Player Performance Centre, giving her access to focused coaching in a high-level group, still playing mainstream football as a deaf child at both her grassroots club and with the Foundation.
Her impact has also extended beyond her own development. Foundation coaches have praised Isla for helping them become more adaptable, with some even learning basic sign language and starting to think more about how they deliver coaching to the whole group without having to individually cater to Isla, allowing her to integrate better into sessions.
In late January, Isla attended a trial for the England U13s Deaf Futsal team, playing several age groups higher, and was successful in securing a place in the squad to head to a tournament in Frankfurt later this year.
Isla’s ambition is to play for the England Deaf Women’s team, with the Foundation continuing to explore pathways to support her journey. Her latest selection represents a significant step towards that goal.
Reflecting on her progress, Isla’s dad, Stuart, said: “Isla is very confident and connects really well with hearing people. She shows that deaf people can do anything.
“Thanks to the Foundation of Light, she found happiness in football and built her confidence. Now she’s completely obsessed with football!
“If she had never gone to the Foundation of Light, she probably wouldn’t be as confident and would still be shy and not interested in football. Thank you!”
This year’s event carries extra significance as Sunderland AFC’s official charity celebrates its 25th anniversary, making it a perfect opportunity to come together and mark a milestone year.
Players from the Emerging Talent Centre, Player Development Club, and Female Scholarship programmes, ranging from U13s to U18s, took part in a week-long training camp in the Netherlands.
Anya Jarvis has been awarded one of February’s Wear 25 awards recognising her continued commitment to community work through the Premier League Kicks sessions at Boldon Community Association.