Everyone can't take part together

Watch everyone can't take part together film

(Everyone can't take part together film transcript)

For far too long disabled people have faced misconceptions and presumptions on what is and isn’t possible, including in sport. It's time to move the conversations on, open people's minds and shift out-dated views on disability. 

Launched on 15 July, who says? gives positive evidence, resources and guidance to replace these negative ideas. The campaign films focus on six perceptions and provide upbeat insight from a mixture of disabled and non-disabled people.  

The campaign was created in response to Activity Alliance’s Taking part with disabled people: perceptions research, which explored non-disabled people’s attitudes on inclusive activity. The findings show a lack of understanding could be causing long-lasting barriers for disabled people. For the least active audience in our country, people’s attitudes can make or break activity experiences.

This page focuses on the perception - everyone can't take part together. 

What do we know?

• Less than one in five non-disabled people had experience of taking part in sport with disabled people and only half of the sample knew a disabled person. Taking part with disabled people report
• Around two thirds (67%) had no prior knowledge of what the term ‘inclusive sport’ means. However, unprompted definitions suggest an awareness that inclusive sport is ’for everyone’. Taking part with disabled people report
• Almost three quarters (73%) of non-disabled people were open to taking part in sport or physical activity with disabled people. However, people are more cautious of taking part with people with certain impairments such as mental health problems or behavioural conditions. Taking part with disabled people report

Calling time on this perception

It is not unusual for you or your organisation to think disabled people don’t want to join in. What’s important is your enthusiasm to learn more. And Activity Alliance with our members have ways to support you on this journey.

Who says? empowers people, on and off the field of play, to challenge their own and others’ perceptions.

More often than not disabled people are looking for opportunities, which appeal to their non-disabled friends and family. The long-term impact is huge as the interaction can help to remove stereotypes and fear. This leads to fewer negative perceptions because integration can improve awareness, confidence and communication.

Our Lifestyle report showed that 6 in 10 disabled people (64 per cent) prefer to take part with a mix of disabled and non-disabled people. (This is what the sector tends to call an “inclusive setting”). However, only 5 in 10 (51 per cent) disabled people are currently taking part this way.

There is no one size fits all and this offer is not everyone’s preference. The important thing is choice and variety. There are a number of ways to be more inclusive. This setting can improve the number of disabled people taking part at a grassroots level. It can make activities more appealing and enjoyable.

Providers can be nervous or lack confidence about putting on inclusive activities. This can be due to limited awareness and understanding of disabled people’s needs and abilities. Therefore, to increase the number of inclusive opportunities, it’s crucial to reassure providers and boost their confidence.

The more inclusive activities there are, the more readily available they are to more of the population. This can have financial benefits too. Increased turnover and the chance to access new funding streams is win-win for local clubs. The people involved in delivering the opportunities also develop and improve their skillset.

Inclusive Activity Programme

Sign-up for our Inclusive Activity Programme. It will equip you with the skills to engage disabled people and people with long-term health conditions more effectively in activities. Funded by Sport England's National Lottery, Activity Alliance is working with UK Coaching.

Access more on this programme here.

Inclusive PE

Free training workshops and resources for teachers, trainee teachers and school staff. Improve your confidence, knowledge and skills including, challenging and progressing all pupils and embedding inclusive practice in your school.

Find out more on Inclusive PE training.

Get Out Get Active

Get Out Get Active (GOGA) is an exciting programme that supports disabled and non-disabled people to enjoy being active together. Funded by Spirit of 2012, all partners are focused on getting some of the UK's least active people moving more. It’s all about fun and inclusive activities.

Find out more on GOGA.

Activity Alliance engagement resources

We have a team of Advisors to support local and national work. The Engagement Advisors cover nine regions across England. Along with our National Advisors, they support key strategic partners, including Active Partnerships and National Governing Bodies of sport (NGBs).

From planning opportunities to measuring impact, these resources can strengthen your work. We want to enable you to engage more disabled people to be and stay active for life.

Read more about our engagement team and resources.

Call time on negative perceptions with us

Taking the conversation beyond the #WhoSays hashtag is important to us. It’s crucial we talk honestly and openly about matters that affect disabled people’s activity, like policy, funding and promotion. We hope the campaign leads to bigger conversations, greater collaboration and wider systemic responses.

If your organisation would like to get involved, has a story to share or you have a great idea for the campaign, please contact news@activityalliance.org.uk or call 0161 228 2868. We have a range of digital supporter materials available for organisations and the media to use.

Who says we can’t change this perception and more? Thank you for your support.