Disability
Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire County Council are working in partnership to influence local sport and leisure providers to increase the choice and opportunity for special needs/disabled young people to take part in activities.
A large piece of disability sport research was undertaken in Spring 2007. To read the results click on the following links:
Report - Young People's Activities Questionnaire for Parents/Carers
The findings from the research will be used to inform development plans and increase the provision for disabled/special needs children and their families in a considered and planned way.
If you would like more information on the project please contact:
Naomi Bird: Telephone 01785 619585
Email: nbird@staffordbc.gov.uk
Or
Anne George: Telephone 01785 277059
Freephone 0800 0930414
Email: anne.george@staffordshire.gov.uk
MENCAP Events
Telephone: 01924 234912 or Email: sport@mencap.org.uk
Or visit the www.mencap.org.uk/sport
Click here to download the latest 'Mencap Sport Newsletter'
"Working with key organisations to improve access, increase awareness and widen opportunities to enable disabled people to increase their levels of participation in sport and physical activity"
The last three years has seen a strong link developed between The English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) and Sport Across Staffordshire Sports Partnership, initially through the Staffordshire Research which focused on disabled adults and children participation levels within sport and physical activity.
The research identified key areas which required co-ordinating and driving forward in a strategic manner across the County, which would impact upon:
- Improving access
- Increasing awareness
- Widening opportunity and promoting inclusion
To support this proposal The English Federation of Disability Sport seconded Marcus Asbury to the Partnership, with a remit to work in Partnership in addressing the above key areas.
Inclusive Fitness Initiative
The Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) is a programme that supports the fitness industry to become more inclusive, catering for the needs of disabled and non-disabled people alike. Through a range of projects and products the initiative supports facilities across England to create an inclusive service, increasing participation by disabled people.
The IFI model is driven by developments in four key areas of fitness provision, underpinned by research conducted back in 1998, which has led to a holistic approach, ensuring that disabled people should expect a truly inclusive experience when visiting an accredited inclusive fitness facility. These four key areas are:
- Accessible Facilities
- Inclusive Fitness Equipment
- Staff Training
- Inclusive Marketing
To find out more visit the IFI website www.inclusivefitness.org
Inclusive Fitness Initiative Funding Opportunities
The Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) is providing the opportunity for fitness operators to gain the nationally recognised IFI Mark Accreditation through the current National Sports Foundation (NSF) programme. The IFI Mark shows a commitment from leisure operators to provide accessible and inclusive fitness suites, ensuring an increased scope for attracting a wider range of potential members previously overlooked by the industry as a whole.
To find out more about what's on offer and funding opportunities click here.
Currently there are five accredited sites within Staffordshire (Cannock, Lichfield, Stafford, Stoke and Stone) and two within Wolverhampton (Aldersley Leisure Village and Wolverhampton Swimming and Fitness Centre).
The full site list for the West Midlands is available from the link below should you wish to find out more details.
http://www.inclusivefitness.org/inclusive-fitness-initiative/region/4/
For further information please contact Michelle Dent Tel 0114 257 2060, Email michelle@inclusivefitness.org
Including Disabled People in Physical Education
April 19th 2005 saw the first "Including Disabled People in Physical Education" course ran across Staffordshire, the course targeted key partners from Education, Sports Development, Local Authority, Leisure and Fitness and the Voluntary Sector etc.
The course is designed to provide key partners with support, advice and guidance as to how they can ensure that activities, programmes and events etc are "inclusive"
Staffordshire Disability Sport Information Pack
The Staffordshire Disability Sport Information Pack has been designed and produced as a resource, with key addresses and information (Sport, Physical Activity and Leisure) which will assist in sign posting and providing pathways for disabled people county wide. A copy of the pack an be obtained by clicking here or by visiting www.efds.co.uk
Partnership Youth Games for Special Schools
For more information please contact Jane Kracke, Sports Manager on 01785 619187 or jkracke@staffordbc.gov.uk
DDA Workshops
The Disability Discriminations Act is recognised legislation that potentially impacts upon fitness suites, leisure centres and service providers. Three workshops were delivered across the county (North, South, East) in supporting service providers, clubs, coaches and volunteers, with particular reference to improving access and awareness.
Athletics
The West Midlands Disability Athletics Focus Group, in Partnership with Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are currently working towards running a Regional Sportshall Competition.
Additional competitions supported through the West Midlands Disability Athletics Focus Group are planned in other Counties across the West Midlands which will feed directly into the Regional Sportshall Championships to be held at a venue in the West Midlands during December 05/January 06.
Investigative work has also been carried out with all Staffordshire Athletic Clubs in supporting them with reference to improving facility access, increasing awareness and promoting inclusion.
Future initiatives identified through the research will be steered and supported through the Partnership's Acting Athletics Development Officer, Bob Askey.
For further information concerning athletics for disabled people please contact Catherine Pendlebury Athletics Development Officer, Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. Tel 01785 619606 Email cpendlebury@staffordbc.co.uk
Swimming
Investigative work has been carried out with county-wide mainstream swimming clubs to identify links with disability specific swimming clubs, with reference to developing new or existing pathways, classification and selection, facility access and staff awareness.
Future initiatives identified through the research will be steered and supported through the Partnership's Swimming Development Officer, Sheila McLeod. For further information contact Sheila McLeod, Swimming Development Officer, Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. Tel: 01785 619693 or Email: smcleod@staffordbc.gov.uk
Football
In partnership with Staffs FA (Equity) Stoke City FC have set up a steering group, which will assist and support the continued development of opportunities for disabled people across all impairment groups within football. Areas of this work will directly link into the developing West Midlands Ability Counts league.
There are currently weekly established sessions run through Stoke City Football Club for disabled people, for further information please contact either Andy Weston (Staffs FA) Tel: 01785 256994, Email: andy.weston@staffordshirefa.com or Lindsay Leighton (Stoke City Football Club) Tel 01782 592222
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For general information of the opportunities that exist in sport please review the rest of this website.
