National News

Goalball Taster programme

20-25 June 2010, EIS, Sheffield
A Goalball Taster programme is going to be running alongside the World Championships that are being held at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield from June 20th – 25th. The free programme is open to School and Community Clubs/Groups and will consist of a 1-hour ‘have a go’ practical session followed by the opportunity to watch a World Championship game.
A total of 42 time slots will be available with each session being open to a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 30 participants. Places must be booked in advance. First choice date/time preferences will be allocated wherever possible. The closing date for applications is Friday 28th May.

Please note that participants are responsible for their own transport to and from the venue and any refreshments whilst they are there. Follow the link below to download a booking form.

For further information please contact Kathryn Fielding on: 07795263642 or 0114 257 0664, e-mail Kathryn@achievepotentials.co.uk

Mencap Calendar of Events

Mencap have produced a calendar of events for all of their National and International activity over the next year.

Click here to get the calendar

MeTRO 34th National Athletics Championships for visually impaired athletes
26 June 2010, Mile End Stadium, Rhodeswell Road, London E14 7TW
Over 100 competitors are expected to take part in this event which is supported by Guide Dogs. All visually impaired schools / colleges are again very welcome to take part, and we are looking forward to having a full track and field competition.

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RYA Sailability on Facebook
You can now keep up to date with all the latest news and activities from RYA Sailability via its brand new Facebook page.

Under the group name, RYA Sailability, you can become a friend of the group and get regular updates on activities and find out more about what Sailability is doing as well as get the lowdown on what Sailability is all about.

“Facebook is a great, modern way for people to find out exactly who we are and what we do”, commented Debbie Blachford, RYA Sailability Manager.

There will be lots of information on the pages including:

Telling disabled people just what opportunities are out there to get sailing.
Engaging with potential volunteers who are invaluable for the running of Sailability groups.
Linking up with possible group supporters / doners.
Advertising of upcoming events as well as post event results, pictures, information.

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Tennis Foundation

Down’s Syndrome Tennis Showcase event
The players, taking part in the Premier League Places for Players initiative, took time out from their evening to assist Fulham FC Foundation and Tennis Foundation staff in coaching the session which has been running at the Surrey centre for the past fortnight.

The Down’s Syndrome Tennis project, the first of its kind nationally, began in January of this year, following the success of Fulham Football Club Foundation’s Down’s Syndrome Football team – the Fulham Badgers – which was set up in 2006 with the help of the DSA (Down’s Syndrome Association). Each Tennis session runs from 6.30pm – 7.30pm on a Tuesday evening and is open to anyone with Down’s syndrome that is between the age of 10 and 25. The scheme encourages any siblings that come to the NTC as spectators to join in the activity too.
Formed as part of the ‘Positive Minds’ project run by the Fulham FC Foundation, the scheme works in partnership with the Tennis Foundation and forms a vital element in the DSA’s DSActive campaign to encourage those with Down’s syndrome to become more involved in sport.

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IFI

100th Piece of IFI Accredited Equipment Unveiled
The Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) has today announced that the Matrix Fitness G3 Series Functional Trainer has become the 100th IFI Accredited Item at Stage 2, marking another significant step for inclusive fitness provision.

For the past nine years, the IFI has been working in close partnership with manufacturers of fitness equipment to ensure that products are inclusive for both disabled and non-disabled people.

The Matrix Functional Trainer (300U) has become the 100th product to meet the IFI Equipment Standards – Stage 2, meaning that leisure and fitness providers have a greater choice of good quality inclusive fitness equipment products than ever before.

Stage 2 Standards have been in place since 2007, to view the full list of IFI Accredited Equipment – Stage 2, please visit www.inclusivefitness.org.

As with all IFI Accredited Equipment, the Functional Trainer has been exposed to a thorough accreditation procedure including a detailed assessment from a panel of industry experts against the IFI Equipment Standards – Stage 2. Arguably, most importantly all products also undergo practical evaluation from a team of disabled volunteers with different impairments who verify their accessibility and ease of use.

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Former Football League player makes a difference for deaf children
NDCS, the leading charity supporting deaf children and young people, has appointed Ian Clarkson as its new Football Development Officer.
The former Football League player will manage a groundbreaking initiative, Deaf Friendly FC project, which was set up in 2007 to make football clubs in England fully accessible to deaf children and young people. The project has so far attracted over 70 football clubs, including giants such as Manchester United and Arsenal.
Mr Clarkson’s appointment to NDCS comes as part of a two year project, awarded by the Football Foundation to continue the Deaf Friendly FC project in 2010-2011.
Over the next two years, Mr Clarkson will focus on developing new partnerships, adding 30 football clubs to the portfolio of the Deaf Friendly FC project, and on training up 80 deaf young football organisers through FA Junior Organisers courses and LA Level 1 courses. He will also develop much-needed football opportunities for deaf girls through working with County FAs.

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England Athletics

England Athletics Launch disability development project

The responsibility and funding for the delivery of "Playground to Podium" transferred from UKA to England Athletics in May 2010. We now have a major role to ensure that the programme is integrated and aligned to our core strategic priorities, specifically club and coach development.
We have made a firm commitment to develop clubs and coaches in an attempt to ensure long term sustainability of activity at a local and regional level. McCain Athletics Networks, Coach Development Programmes and Flying Coaches are 3 key examples of this and provide excellent opportunities to support and strengthen local

County Athlete Assessment Days (CAADs). Where possible local clubs and coaches should be fully engaged with and benefit from the project to provide a seamless pathway for talented athletes to progress. The Disability Athletics Support Officer (DASO) and local Club and Coach Support Officer (CCSO) will help to facilitate this.

It is our vision for Playground to Podium to play a significant role in the wider development of grassroots opportunities for disabled performers and athletics coaches and clubs beyond the identification of talented individuals.

There is a brand new section on our website where you can read more. Click here to go to England Athletics website.

2010 UK National Blind Sailing Championships, 21-23 May 2010
The East Anglian Sailing Trust will be hosting the 2010 UK National Blind Sailing Championships Over the weekend of 21- 23 May, at Suffolk Yacht HarbourThe East Anglian Sailing Trust (EAST), provides disabled East Anglians and their carers with regular opportunities to access and enjoy sailing activities whilst promoting enhanced independence, confidence and community involvement.

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