Nottingham hosts first Inclusive Activity Programme workshop
On 5 October 2018, we kicked off the Inclusive Activity Programme with the first workshop held at the University of Nottingham. Funded by Sport England's National Lottery, Activity Alliance is working with UK Coaching over three years. This was the first of over 600 workshops we will deliver across England between now and March 2021.
Hannah Webber, Disability Sport Officer, arranged the workshop for the University, which was hosted and funded by Active Partners Trust. She wanted to equip their sports clubs’ members and volunteers with the skills, knowledge and confidence to deliver more inclusive sessions for disabled students.
After the workshop, Hannah told Activity Alliance about her positive experience. She said:
“The Inclusive Activity Programme is a great way of encouraging sports volunteers and coaches to think outside of the box. They can use their initiative when it comes to the delivery of sporting opportunities for disabled participants. I would certainly recommend this programme to other universities”
The attendees had a range of backgrounds and experiences. It included members of the University’s trampoline, wheelchair basketball, equestrian, handball and athletics clubs, as well as some of their disability sport volunteers and physiotherapy students.
One of the students in attendance at the workshop, said:
“"I attended the Inclusive Activity Programme Training workshop to broaden both my knowledge and experience of making sporting activities inclusive for people with physical, sensory and learning impairments.”
During the three-hour workshop, participants were introduced and supported to apply the STEP tool (Space, Task, Equipment, People) and Activity Inclusion Model to various activities.
For Hannah, it was beneficial that the students had the opportunity to use these tools practically by creating their own inclusive games during the workshop. The workshop also introduced participants to Activity Alliance’s Ten Principles and how to apply them in their roles to increase participation.
The Inclusive Activity Programme equips you with the skills to engage disabled people and people with long-term health conditions more effectively in activities. It significantly improves the confidence and competence of the coaching family, local community activators, health and care professionals.
Interested in attending an Inclusive Activity Programme workshop or would like to arrange a bespoke workshop for up to 16 people? Please register your interest via this link.
