Essex organisations back All Together disability sport campaign
Organisations across the county are pledging their support to a campaign aimed at increasing disabled people's participation in sport. Active Essex, the county sports partnership for Greater Essex, launched the All Together programme last year, with the aim of encouraging more disabled people to take part in sport and physical activity.
The All Together programme has 35 ambassadors, who help inspire more disabled people to get active, signpost to sporting opportunities across the county and help break down some of the barriers which prevent disabled people taking part in sport and physical activity.
Hayley Chapman, Sport and Physical Activity Officer at Active Essex, said:
“We are committed to increasing participation in disability and inclusive sport across the county. By working closely with other organisations within the sector, we can raise awareness of the opportunities, facilities and support out there.”
All Together has now gained the support of 12 organisations working within the disability sector, who have agreed to promote the various opportunities and services in sport across their communication channels.
Organisations including ECL Sensory Service, Southend Mencap and Tendring Community Transport are working with Active Essex to increase awareness of the services and activities available amongst their members and the wider community.
Faye Gatenby, Head of the ECL Sensory Service, said:
“The All Together campaign is shining a light on accessible sporting and physical activity opportunities available within Essex and also developing new opportunities, we are proud to be a supporting organisation.”
Marc McOwens, from Southend Mencap, said:
“Southend Mencap has been at the forefront of providing greater opportunities for people with learning disabilities to access sporting activities especially with our SMASH sports club having been in operation since January 2000. The introduction of the All Together project is another positive step for our students to not only have even more opportunities to take part in physical and sporting activities but also to access these in more mainstream venues than they have previously been able to”.
Pauline Mann, from Tendring Community Transport, said:
“We are proud supporters of the All Together campaign which helps encourage healthier, independent lifestyles for members of the local community who are unable to access conventional forms of transport to access health/leisure activities.”
Last year Active Essex announced their four year strategy to change a million lives to get Essex active with a key priority to improve health and wellbeing for those living with a disability or life-long illness. This accounts for 17.1% of the Greater Essex population.
Azeem Akhtar, Chair, Active Essex, said:
“Our All Together Ambassadors are already playing a vital role in increasing the number of the disabled people who are involved in sport and physical activity in Essex.
“With further support from organisations, and additional funding for community projects, we can help spread this message further and build on the success we have had.”
