Blog: "Success is measured differently for each individual"
The English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) website features a blog post every Friday through the year. In 2017 we'll be sharing the experiences of disabled people, and those who support disabled people, on their journey to being more active. This week, Vicky Irwin, Inclusion Officer at Sharks Community Trust, writes about her experiences running the 'In the Pack' programme. The Club's community work aims to get more people, more active, in a more inclusive environment, including more disabled people.
Sharks Community Trust is the charitable arm of Sale Sharks, the North West’s only Premiership Rugby Club. The charity was established in 2011 to help use rugby and sport for the wider community benefit, drawing on the core values of rugby, which are teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship, to deliver a range of community engagement programmes.
The Trust currently employs 20 full time staff who are experienced at working with a range of people, of all ages and abilities. Their aim is for their passion for sport, community development and education to be passed on to the next generation.
‘In The Pack’ is Sharks Community Trust’s Inclusive Rugby Programme. The programme offers rugby playing opportunities for those who have an impairment or additional needs. The programme provides opportunities for disabled and non-disabled people to play rugby together, sessions are open to multi-disability participation, so people with different impairments can play together in an inclusive way. We currently offer wheelchair tag rugby, inclusive tag rugby and walking rugby. The fundamental aim of ‘In the Pack’ is to get more people, more active, in a more inclusive environment.
I am Inclusion Officer at Sharks Community Trust and my role is to expand and broaden the ‘In the Pack’ programme. I have been with the organisation since November 2014. There are many rewards from my role, the focal being seeing individuals experience new activities and really enjoying it. My challenge is to provide more of these opportunities across our region, a great challenge to have!
The majority of our sessions are based in schools, both Special Educational Needs schools and mainstream schools who have students with additional needs or disabilities. Our community Wheelchair Tag Rugby sessions are fully inclusive and we see families with a disabled family member playing sport together for the first time.
All sessions are different, but we would usually have no more than 20 per session to ensure everyone taking part has a great experience. We are being proactive and working with other community departments, County Sport Partnerships and borough sports organisations, which is proving successful so far.
This year, we will have regular wheelchair tag rugby community sessions and inclusive tag rugby sessions in local clubs, along with expanding ‘In the Pack’ to deliver mixed ability rugby. Also walking rugby sessions with disabled adult groups and people aged 55+. The main aim for 2017 is to make ‘In the Pack’ bigger and better.
I’d say to anyone delivering or wanting to deliver activities for disabled people…
Regardless of attendance numbers to sessions, make sure those who attend leave having had a really great experience from your session. Success is measured differently for each individual.
