News from Stoke-on-Trent City Council

 

'Community Games' is part of the West Midlands' Legacy Trust programme that aims to leave a lasting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

 

The Community Games programme is about encouraging and enabling communities across the West Midlands to stage their own community events.

 

Learners at Regent College were given the opportunity to try their hand at a range of sporting activities that they would not normally have access to.

 

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is working with the college and North Staffordshire Special Olympics to encourage young people to become more involved with sports and promote healthy living.

 

The 30 learners at Regent College participated in an Opening Ceremony, team games, dragon boating at Rudyard Lake, dancing, swimming at Fenton Manor, track events, football including a tour of Port Vale FC, Boccia and orienteering.

 

Participants were able to increase their social, communication, vocational and independence skills from the project. The activities will also offer them the chance to achieve qualifications via the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme.

 

Learners participated in sporting activity all week helping them to increase their levels of fitness, explore healthy eating and raise their awareness of the different sporting opportunities available to them.

 

Regent College is an independent specialist college offering day provision for learners aged 16 to 25 years.

 

The college was established in 1999 by Shelton Care Ltd and operates from a building on Shelton New Road. The age range of the learners at the college is 16 to 25 years. All of the learners have complex and multiple disabilities. Over half of the learners have a diagnosis of autism or autistic-related difficulties.

Community Games are a way for you to bring your community together to take part in sporting and cultural activities inspired by, and in celebration of, London 2012. Community Games gives you the chance to be part of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. But it’s also about bringing people together to try new sporting and arts activities and having loads of fun at the same time.

 

What support is available?

If an organisation/group decides to link in with the Community Games programme there will be help and support available; 

• A website - www.communitygames.org.uk, with lots of helpful ideas, resources and templates
• A toolkit - available to download from the website
• A page on the website for your Community Games 
• Free workshops on how to organise and promote successful Community Games -details of these workshops can be found here - http://www.sportacrossstaffordshire.co.uk/CommunityGames
• A regular newsletter with information and news on what's happening elsewhere
• Posters & postcards to promote your event
• Bunting, flags and banners to hire free of charge for your event

I’m interested - what do I do next?

 

Go to www.communitygames.org.uk where you can find out more and register your interest. Then one of the Community Games team will contact you and help you to get started.

 

Chris Turner
Club Development Manager
T: 01785 619681
E: cturner@staffordbc.gov.uk

 

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Dimensions new Sensory Room helps children with special needs

 

Dimension Leisure Centre is about to open the door to its latest attraction, an interactive Sensory Room for young children with special needs.

 

Packed from floor to ceiling with gadgets and gizmos, the Sensory Room has been funded by an Aiming High grant and is designed to entertain and educate, helping children develop their senses and skills.

 

At its heart the Sensory Room helps to remove distractions and stress found in the everyday world.  It places the child in a safe environment which encourages those who are overactive to become calm and relax while stimulating those who may be inactive.  

 

Children who suffer from a range of physical disabilities are also well catered for with the inclusion of soft play features, vivid lighting effects and mobilisation equipment.

 

Each aspect of the Sensory Room is interactive, allowing children to manipulate and explore the various visual or audible effects.  The soft play floor has an in built piano capable of producing a range of sounds as children either stand on each section or press with their hands. The walls light up with a variety of interactive and vividly coloured shapes while a fibre optic waterfall cascades along dozens of tiny translucent cables. 

 

 

Hi definition televisions have been installed showing special programmes designed to captivate children’s attention and large water tubes generate thousands of sparkling bubbles.  A number of touch walls also provide sensory feedback while teaching basic problem solving.  All this and much more has been packed into the new Sensory Room which will help many hundreds of children over the years to come.

 

A range of drop in sessions will accommodate general admission to the Sensory Room for young children. Sessions for local children’s groups are also planned together with the ability for private groups to hire the facility for 45 minute sessions.

 

Further information is available from Dimensions on 01782 233500.

 

Brett Young
Operations Manager, Stoke-on-Trent Sports and Leisure (North)
T: 01782 233500
E: brett.young@stoke.gov.uk