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Successful pilot day for Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All Inclusive Community Training

The Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All Inclusive Community Training programme gets off to a flying start ahead of its national roll out this month. Sainsbury’s Active Kids programme, Sport England, the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) and sports coach UK have come together to provide more people with the skills to deliver activities that include more disabled people.

The programme started with ten pilot training days throughout February, including delivery through Plymouth YMCA.  Under the banner of the established Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All scheme, supported by £1 million of National Lottery funding  from Sport England, the training aims to support community-based groups and organisations, support workers, parents, carers and volunteers to improve their knowledge, competence and confidence in delivering local sport based opportunities for disabled people.

Tara Hewitt, Head of sponsorship at Sainsbury’s:

“Since Active Kids started we’ve donated £136 million worth of equipment and experiences to young children, the Active Kids for All initiative is a great addition and a unique step forward to give people the skills and knowledge to include disabled people in sport and activities.”

To ensure maximum impact and engagement with as many people as possible, EFDS and sports coach UK are working with a range of organisations from the sport, community and disability sectors to deliver this programme. EFDS and sports coach UK are running pilot workshops in ten locations across England prior to the programme’s national rollout in April 2014. One of the most recent partnerships is with the YMCA; the largest youth charity in the world. They welcomed the opportunity to host the community training pilot on 23 February in Plymouth. Twenty-one local parents, support workers, coaches, volunteers and leaders attended the course.

Stacey Ferris, Youth & Inclusion Manager, Plymouth YMCA said:

“Plymouth YMCA’s OnSide club provides a valuable opportunity for young people with a disability or additional needs to participate in sport with their friends and family. These sessions are provided by both experienced coaches and enthusiastic volunteers who encourage young people to engage in sport and remain active.  The Active Kids for All training supported staff and volunteers to further focus on ability as opposed to impairment and provided an opportunity to share knowledge and ideas. This is an ideal introductory course to encourage people to think about how and what they are delivering.”

Barry Horne, Chief Executive for the English Federation of Disability Sport, said about the partnership with YMCA:

“We are delighted to be working with such a proactive partner as the YMCA to make this training offer available to staff and volunteers across England. The Active Kids for All Inclusive Community Training is a unique opportunity to up-skill providers who are at the heart of our local communities supporting the growth of inclusive grassroots activity and sport.”

The workshop’s feedback highlighted the value of the programme, with all attendees stating they learned ways to support inclusive delivery. Participants also found exploring different methods to assist disabled people taking part in physical activity and sport to be really useful.

The community training complements the successful Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All Inclusive PE Training, launched in 2012.

If you or your organisation would like to sign up to or find out more about either the PE or Community training, contact the Active Kids for All team through email AK4A@efds.co.uk or by telephone 01509 227751.

More information is on the EFDS website link

Notes to editors:

Contact the Active Kids for All team on email AK4A@efds.co.uk or telephone 01509 227751.

  • Sainsbury’s Active Kids was launched in 2005 in response to growing concerns around children’s activity and obesity levels. It is one of Sainsbury’s largest and longest running initiatives with over £136 million worth of equipment and experiences having been donated to nurseries, schools, Scout and Guide groups and Clubmark accredited sports clubs.
  • In 2012, Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All was launched, which initially focussed on the development and delivery of inclusive PE training for teachers in mainstream schools across the UK.
  • In 2013, Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All Inclusive Community Training was developed to extend the high quality support for teachers through the Inclusive PE Training initiative- to community based groups and organisations.

The Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All Inclusive Community Training is being delivered through the English Federation of Disability Sport and sports coach UK, supported by a £1 million investment from Sport England.