Blog: 'It is essential that disabled people are represented'
The English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) website features a blog post every Friday through the year.
March's theme is local sports delivery. To start us off, Lee Mason of the County Sports Partnership Network discusses the role CSPs should play in delivering accessible opportunities for disabled people. Lee is also on EFDS's Board.
Lee's blog
As a trustee of EFDS and Chief Executive of the CSP Network, I suppose I am well placed to contribute to this week’s blog.
County Sports Partnerships (CSPs) are now a well-established part of the local sport and physical activity landscape. They have an important role to play in helping make active lives possible for disabled people.
CSPs are locally-based organisations which collectively cover every part of England, and aim to improve lives by growing grassroots sport and physical activity.
We deliver an extensive range of programmes and services using our networks of local partner agencies, and are committed to ensuring these opportunities are inclusive and accessible for disabled people.
With one in five people in England having an impairment, disabled people make up a significant proportion of our target market. Disabled people are half as likely to be active as non-disabled people, but seven in 10 want to do more. We have a significant latent demand which we must address if we are to achieve our aims.
We were therefore delighted to sign up to the recently-launched Charter for Change, which provides a really useful framework for CSPs and all local organisations to consider what more they can do to ensure disabled people have every opportunity to be as active as non-disabled people.
There are many local opportunities for disabled people to get more active, and yet EFDS research tells us that six in 10 disabled people do not know about opportunities or feel that a lack of available activities is what prevents them from taking part.
Programmes such as Sportivate, delivered by all CSPs, provide many opportunities for disabled people to try new activities, while Sainsbury's SchoolGames includes a range of disability and inclusive events.
Your local CSP is a great first port of call to find out more about the opportunities that exist in your local area.
For local disability organisations, CSPs can provide support and help to create links with local sports organsations. For example, many CSPs are helping EFDS with the local delivery of the Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All Inclusive Community Training scheme, which provides great introductory training to increase confidence in delivering sports based activities to disabled people.
We also work closely with local sports organisations who wish to extend their reach and become more inclusive.
CSPs also operate at a strategic level, working to influence decision makers and funders to consider the needs of disabled people.
To support all of the above, as the Charter for Change states, it is essential that disabled people are represented within CSPs to ensure their voices are heard, whether that be as coaches and volunteers, staff or on CSP Boards.
If you would like to get involved, please get in touch with your local CSP - they would be delighted to hear from you.
To find your nearest CSP's details, visit the CSPN website.
