National News

Sport England’s most recent Active People survey shows that over 93 per cent of disabled people in England are not regularly taking part in sport. Not all disabled people will go on to reach elite level participation like the Paralympics, but still want to enjoy the many benefits of being active.

 

EFDS strive to increase the same opportunities and choices as non-disabled people have to participate, stay and excel in sport. We want to get more disabled people taking part in sport; that is enjoying equal opportunities to access quality sport provision of their choice, at a venue of their choice and a level of their choice – with sport making a real impact on their lives.

 

We hope the genuine legacy from the Paralympic Games in 2012 will be that more disabled people are participating across the nation- at every level. The next two years promise to be an exciting time for all involved.

 

Barry Horne, the Chief Executive at EFDS said:

“EFDS are committed to playing a central role going forward, providing leadership on increasing participation in sport for disabled people.

We will be working closely with all sports organisations and the disability sector to ensure inclusivity in sport amongst disabled people. Our passion is to ensure we gain the maximum benefit from what we know will be a successful Paralympics and deliver a genuine legacy for disabled people in sport”.

 

EFDS are responsible for the promotion and development of sport and physical activity for all disabled people in England. We operate across a national and regional basis, and through targeted projects and programmes. Since establishing in 1998, EFDS has built up a strong track record of working with partners to attract external non-governmental funding for sporting initiatives for disabled people.

 

The London 2012 Paralympics will run from 29 August- 5 September and features 20 sports in the programme, breaking down into disciplines and events.

 

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Special Educational Needs/Disabilities (SEND) Conference Awards
The Innovation Awards 2010 offer schools an opportunity to rise to the challenge, and really highlight the unique and innovative work they are doing. The basis for an application should be around innovative work currently being done or planned in the school in ONE of the four areas:

1. Impact of physical/sensory specialism for all
Demonstration of how your school has used the specialism as a vehicle to impact on challenging all young people.

 

2. Impact of sport specialism for all
Demonstration of how your school has used the specialism as a vehicle to impact on challenging all young people.

 

3. Impact of Workforce Development
An award to celebrate a member of your school workforce, that through specialism has gained personal development and impacted on the young people.

 

4. Impact of specialism on the mainstream setting
Celebration of a piece of work that a special school has lead on that demonstrates great impact in the mainstream setting.

All applications to be submitted by 19th October 2010

 

Click here for full details

 

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ASA Swimming Mygames Volunteering Opportunities

mygames (powered by v), offers young people a unique opportunity to promote and celebrate the values of the 2012 Olympic Games, which include friendship, respect, excellence, equality and determination. Young volunteers will be encouraged to use these values to develop a volunteering project that will make a positive difference in their community.

 

The ASA’s mygames project will offer 42 young disabled volunteers aged 16-25 from across the country the opportunity to volunteer at aquatic events and gain valuable experience. Young volunteers will have the opportunity to produce a Personal Development Plan, take part in training opportunities and volunteer at regional and national events. Working with a mentor the young volunteer will develop the skills and confidence needed to have the opportunity to volunteer at the 2012 Paralympic Trials. Young volunteers will have the opportunity to receive training and all expenses incurred will be reimbursed. It is not essential that the young volunteers have previous experience in the volunteering or in swimming but it is desirable that they have an interest in volunteering within the swimming community.

 

The programme has a total of ten mentors and each will work closely with a small number of volunteers to really support their individual development over the length of the programme and ensure that beneficial volunteering opportunities are found within the local area.  

 

The mygames mentors are:

Janette Papadopoulos	North East - Tyne & Wear
Kate Smith	North East - Tyne & Wear
Lee Dalzell	North East - Durham
Barbara Kerr	Yorkshire
Nigel Crowe	Merseyside
Elizabeth Christian	East Anglia
Joshua Pattison	Gloucestershire
Jo Frith	Somerset
Rosemary Brimacombe	Devon
Yvonne O'Keeffe - Mol	London

 

If you need any further information please contact Francesca Kelly, ASA Disability Swimming Volunteer Co-coordinator: francesca.kelly@swimming.org

 

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