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EFDS breaking down club barriers for young disabled people

A CBBC Newsround piece released this week (Monday 31 March) has sparked new interest in the quantity and quality of opportunities for young disabled people in after-school activities. Barriers at a local level in sport as well as the attitudes towards young disabled people are two elements addressed in the Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All inclusive community training programme and the Inclusion Club Hub toolkit.

Newsround’s article referred to a recent Scope report which identifies there are not enough out of school clubs for disabled children, many don't feel welcome at clubs and in some cases get turned away because of their disability. In Scope’s recommendations, they pinpoint two improvements necessary- training for staff that run the activities and the need to make clubs more welcoming for disabled children.

The Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All Inclusive Community Training Programme (delivered by the English Federation of Disability Sport and sports coach UK) hopes to increase knowledge, competence and confidence in delivering sports based activities to disabled people. Sport England has invested £1million to support the programme, which educates and works directly with the disability sector as well as community groups and organisations. All partners are working together to develop more pathways for disabled people in physical activity and sport.

The training consists of a three-hour practical workshop and supported by online resources. All elements support the development of a workforce, which is welcoming and inclusive. Ultimately, they will improve the quality and quantity of physical activity and sport for disabled people across England.

In 2012, we launched the Inclusion Club Hub for local providers across the country. The English Federation of Disability Sport developed the free and interactive toolkit so clubs can review how inclusive they are as well as provide more information for potential improvements. In the 18 months since its launch, over 500 have registered on the site.

If you would like to sign up to or find out more about the Sainsbury’s Active Kids Inclusive Community Training, contact the Active Kids for All team through email AK4A@efds.co.uk or by telephone 01509 227751.

Take a look at the Inclusion Club Hub on www.inclusion-club-hub.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

  • The Active Kids for All Inclusive Community Training Programme sits under the banner of the Sainsbury’s Active Kids programme which was launched in 2005 in response to growing concern’s around children’s activity and obesity levels.
  • The Inclusive Community Training Programme provides low cost training to support workers, parents, carers, healthcare professionals, volunteers and community organisations and groups.
  • The training will be delivered across England from April 2014.

Scope ran an online survey for Mumsnet users who are parents of disabled children, across two weeks in January and February 2014. 550 parents responded to the survey. The results have helped Mumsnet to launch This Is My Child campaign. It is a myth-busting and awareness-raising campaign, launched in response to requests from their members and supported by input from some of the leading charities in the field.