Nottingham Casualties Volleyball Club’s Secretary and Head Coach, Stephanie Fu, has been named the recipient of August’s Captain’s Corner Award.
Stephanie, who has been passionate about growing sport inclusion, is recognised for her outstanding contribution to the community by bringing ‘Sitting Volleyball’ to Nottingham. This is a sport designed for people with physical impairments but inclusive to all.
Stephanie introduced sitting volleyball to Nottingham two years ago, using funding from Volleyball England to kickstart the initiative. The club now hosts regular sessions at the Portland Centre, thanks to the support of Notts County Foundation.
Prior to her efforts, the only sitting volleyball team in the East Midlands was based in Lincoln, but Stephanie was determined to make the sport more accessible in her home city.
Sitting volleyball, a fast-paced variant of the traditional game, is played at the Paralympic Games and can be enjoyed by both disabled and non-disabled players at club level in England.
Stephanie’s drive for inclusion stems from her volunteer work with Volley for England over eight years ago. She was inspired by the power of sport and wanted to make it a bigger part of her community.
The volleyball club originated from the QMC, which inspired their ‘Casualties’ name, and aim to showcase sitting volleyball and disability sport in a positive light; providing more opportunity for disabled people in Nottingham.
Earlier this year, the club was also awarded ‘Club of the Month’ by Paralympics GB, supported by Toyota’s #EverybodyMoves campaign.
Reflecting on the two awards, Stephanie said:
“It is an honour, and I’m proud to have been named the team of the month for the Toyota Everybody Moves campaign and now recipient of the Captain’s Corner award. We are still relatively new and working hard to put the sport on the map. Sit-down volleyball needs more visibility—it’s just about giving people an opportunity to play sport. These awards really help us achieve our goals”. – Stephanie Fu | Head Coach
For Stephanie, sports go beyond physical activity. She believes in the social and mental benefits of being part of a team.
Stephanie said; “Sport is powerful. It’s more than just exercise and competition. You make lifelong friends, it’s good for your mental health, and it’s about being part of a community. You learn about different cultures and people’s lives along the way.”
The sessions at the Portland Centre attract a wide range of players, including people with and without disabilities. Club member Adam Leaver, who has a lower leg impairment after battling bone cancer in 2012, shared how the sport has transformed his life.
Adam said, “I was very sporty before my diagnosis but after multiple surgeries, I couldn’t play in the way I used to. Sitting volleyball gave me that outlet I’d been missing. Having a club here at Portland is amazing, and it’s given me the opportunity to play competitively again at events like the Sitting Volleyball Grand Prix in Kettering.”
Leaver credited Stephanie with bringing sitting volleyball to Nottingham, calling her the driving force behind the club:
“Without her, there wouldn’t be a sitting volleyball group in Nottingham. Steph’s dedication and passion for the sport are evident, and she thoroughly deserves the Captain’s Corner award.” – Adam Leaver, Volleyball club member
Stephanie’s goal is to continue growing the sport and creating more opportunities for everyone to get involved. She sees this award as a stepping stone: “Yes, it’s nice to have a certificate, but this feels like a chance to promote what I’m passionate about—sport inclusion. Everything starts small, but with recognition from Notts County Foundation and Paralympics GB, this is only the beginning.”
As the club celebrates this win, Stephanie’s vision of creating a truly inclusive sport for Nottingham continues to take shape, and her determination ensures that sitting volleyball will keep growing in visibility and impact.
