A footballer from North London is advocating for government assistance to ensure that deaf athletes receive the same opportunities as their hearing counterparts.

Lucindha Lawson, hailing from Crouch End, is set to represent Great Britain at the Deaflympics in Tokyo next week—a competition akin to the Olympics for deaf athletes—after successfully raising £4,000 to cover her entry fee through contributions from supporters.

In contrast to their Olympic and Paralympic peers, athletes participating in the Deaflympics must self-finance their participation as they are not eligible for any grants.

The government has pledged to ensure that sports in the UK are accessible and inclusive for everyone, including those who are deaf.

Lawson has proudly represented her nation four times at the Deaflympics, a premier multi-sport event for top-tier deaf athletes that occurs every four years.

In an interview with BBC London prior to achieving her fundraising target, she shared that the process of raising funds was “stressful” and “challenging.”

“We rely on support from local communities, charities, and businesses to gather the necessary funds ourselves,” she explained to BBC London.

“This situation has a significant impact on my football career. The constant worry about finances leads me to sometimes neglect my training, which can hinder my progress. If financial burdens weren’t a concern, I could fully focus on my football.”

Although it was indicated that UK Deaf Sport would cover her participation cost, she would need to repay the organization or risk being excluded from future events.

“I’d have to set up a repayment plan and pay it back from my own savings, which frankly shouldn’t be necessary,” she remarked. “I am representing my nation, so it’s disheartening.”

While expressing how “really proud” she is to represent Great Britain, Lawson admitted to feeling “trapped.”

Due to her hearing impairment, she is ineligible for participation in the Paralympics and thus cannot access funding opportunities.

Lawson called on the government to “please support us,” emphasizing the significance of the Deaflympics to the deaf community. “This event was established before the Paralympics, yet it seems to lack recognition from the government and international governing bodies. Why are we not receiving funding? Everyone deserves equal opportunities.”

UK Olympians and Paralympians primarily receive their funding from UK Sport, which allocates government and National Lottery resources to national governing bodies. These organizations, in turn, provide individual athletes with support.

Presently, however, elite deaf athletes in the UK do not receive any funding.

Chris Ratcliffe, chief executive of UK Deaf Sport, described it as “shameful” that deaf athletes are deprived of funding during a recent meeting with MPs.

While the government stated it cannot allocate additional funding to high-performance athletes beyond what is currently provided for Olympic and Paralympic success, it noted that £1.2 million is allocated annually for grassroots deaf sports initiatives.