Paul Mullin hails Wigan Athletic disability programme after £30,120 Sky Bet grant

Wigan Athletic loanee striker Paul Mullin helped celebrate a six-figure community boost when Sky Bet organised him to lead a coaching session for adult players with disabilities after the club’s community trust secured a £30,120 grant from the Sky Bet EFL Building Foundations Fund.

The funding guarantees the future of Wigan Athletic Community Trust’s Every Player Counts programme for the next three seasons, covering facilities, equipment, travel and day-to-day costs so the weekly sessions can be offered free of charge and the team can continue competing in the Greater Manchester Ability Counts Football League.

Mullin, who joined Wigan on loan, traded his usual role as a penalty taker for that of coach as part of the session arranged to mark the announcement. He described the initiative as “life-changing” for participants and said professional players and clubs have a responsibility to support their communities.

"I think we’re in a very privileged position to play football for a living," Mullin said. "I know we work extremely hard to get here, but so many people would love to swap places with us, so it’s only right us as players but also the clubs do what we can to look after the community and local people. I like to be on hand to help where I can, it’s something that fills me with joy and sessions like this help bring joy to those who haven’t been as fortunate in life."

Mullin has been publicly candid about his family’s experience after his son Albi was diagnosed as autistic. He told Sky Bet the trust’s work had provided pathways for participants to overcome obstacles and to develop confidence, friendships and social skills.

The Every Player Counts programme runs weekly sessions on Wednesdays and fields teams in the Ability Counts programme on Friday nights. Jamie Cook, health engagement officer at Wigan Athletic Community Trust, said the grant will allow the trust to remove financial barriers by keeping the sessions free and enabling regular travel to league fixtures.

"It will allow us to continue the Every Player Counts Programme for another three years, which has been life-changing for some of the participants," Cook said. "The grant means we can offer the sessions for free, so there are no barriers, and anyone can come along to the session and just play football. It will also help us continue being part of the Ability Counts League. We can take the group over to Salford to play competitive football, it gives them an opportunity to represent the club and wear the kit. It makes them feel part of a network, part of the club and part of the trust which is hugely important for them."

The Sky Bet EFL Building Foundations Fund has previously supported grassroots and community projects across the English Football League, focusing on initiatives that promote participation, health and wellbeing. Wigan Athletic Community Trust’s use of the grant aligns with those aims by enabling sustained activity for adults with a wide range of disabilities and by providing them opportunities to compete under the club banner.

Club and trust officials said the session with Mullin was intended both to celebrate the secured funding and to raise the profile of the programme locally. Participants and organisers said wearing club colours and competing in the Ability Counts League contribute to a stronger sense of belonging and visibility for players with disabilities within the broader football community.

The grant covers three seasons of core costs for Every Player Counts, including facility hire, specialist equipment and travel to away fixtures. Organisers said continued funding will allow the trust to plan long-term for participant development and community engagement without year-to-year uncertainty over resources.

Sky Bet confirmed it had organised the coaching session as part of the wider announcement and said it hoped the funding would sustain the programme’s impact on health, social inclusion and competitive opportunity for adult players with disabilities.