Issue 6 Summer 2014
The Sportarray Roundup
- Sporting opportunities for disabled people in North Somerset –
Introduction
Welcome to the latest edition of the Sportarray Roundup, aimed at anyone interested or involved in local, inclusive sport.
Sportarray is a North Somerset Council initiative aiming to increase the number of disabled people regularly playing sport. We’re supporting clubs, coaches and volunteers to gain knowledge and skills to provide new inclusive sport sessions as part of their club activities.
This edition is packed full of local opportunities in a range of exciting sports. Read on to see how many you can spot…!
1 Issue 6 Summer 2014
Feature article: A Guide to Inclusive Communications
The English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) has produced a guide to inclusive communications. Written in partnership with Big Voice Communications, it supports providers to reach a wider audience, including more disabled people.
It aims to address the main communication barriers that many people experience in sport and physical activity, which also stop disabled people from accessing some opportunities. As well as providing essential better practice guidance on planning, terminology and language, it explains the purpose of accessible formats and shows how providers can get the best from their communications.
There are approximately 11 million disabled people in the UK (one in five of our population). As a group, disabled people are a large proportion of this potential audience. As with any other large group, there can be no one-size fits all approach to how or what is communicated with disabled people and despite the advances in technology, there are still a number of different factors that can prevent groups of people or individuals from receiving communications.
The way in which disabled people access communications may be different to non-disabled people; and people with different impairments have different needs or experience different ‘barriers’ to accessing information. EFDS hopes this new guide enables more providers to understand the principles of and benefit from inclusive communications. The guide is available in various formats.
To download a copy of the guide visit www.efds.co.uk
2 Issue 6 Summer 2014
Club Development
Disability sport should seek emotional connection: study
Disabled people are more likely to respond to activities which connect to their everyday values, according to a new English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) report.
The Motivate Me report – researched and produced by 2CV on behalf of EFDS – claims that the majority of current sport and physical activity initiatives aimed at disabled people fail to engage audiences effectively.
This is attributed to sports providers tending to focus on the audience’s disability or impairment when offering sporting opportunities and promotions – and missing out on the emotional connection that is often required to attract disabled people.
For details visit http://lei.sr?a=z5a5z
Players
New list of inclusive sports clubs in North Somerset
We’ve put together a list of inclusive sports clubs in North Somerset, which highlights the local clubs that we’re supporting to become more inclusive through our Sportarray initiative. For your e-copy visit www.n-somerset.gov.uk/sportarray
If your club is looking for support to create new opportunities for disabled players, either through dedicated or mixed ability sessions, please email us to find out more at [email protected]
3 Issue 6 Summer 2014
Training
New training course coming to North Somerset for those supporting disabled people to get into sport – book now!
To continue the momentum and create a lasting legacy for disabled people after the London 2012 Games, a new training course is being delivered through the English Federation of Disability Sport and sports coach UK.
This new national workshop will provide first step training to improve knowledge, competence and confidence in delivering sports-based activities to disabled people. It has been designed for coaches, leaders, assistants and parents who support community groups in England. It helps them to develop the skills and confidence to include disabled people in grassroots sporting activity.
The key focus for this initiative is to engage those individuals who are not traditionally associated with the sporting landscape but who currently have direct contact with disabled people and would like to encourage and support them to take up sport. Thus, the target audience for the training includes:
• Support workers • Parents / carers • Health care professionals • Volunteers • Community organisations and groups
By educating and working directly with these community providers we have the opportunity to further establish a pathway for disabled people in physical activity and sport.
Details of the training are as follows:
Date: Wednesday 16 July Time: 6pm – 9pm Venue: Hans Price Sports Centre, Marchfields Way, Weston, BS23 3QP
To register your interest in this course email [email protected] or call 01275 882 734.
4 Issue 6 Summer 2014
Sportarray practical training review
We recently ran a practical inclusive sport training session for local sports clubs at Hutton Moor Leisure Centre in Weston-super-Mare.
The training gave local sports coaches and volunteers the opportunity to take part in a range of practical activities demonstrating key general principles for delivering inclusive sport within your club. The session also focused on how to adapt different sports to include disabled players with a range of different impairments.
Coaches and volunteers attended from sports including bowls, cycling, outdoor pursuits, rugby, dance, snooker and martial arts. Those local clubs will gain further support through our Sportarray initiative to deliver opportunities for disabled players inclusively as part of their main club structures.
Feedback from the training session was very positive and further dates are planned for later this year.
To express an interest in future inclusive sport training sessions for a coach or volunteer from your club please email [email protected] or call 01275 882 734.
Local roundup...
Golf sessions at Tickenham Golf Club
Tickenham Golf Club is providing golf lessons for disabled young people aged 14-25 this summer.
7 week course for young people aged 14-25 with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) - £15 – starts 11 June
6 week course for disabled young people aged 14-25 - £18 – starts 13 June
These are both more than 70% funded by Sportivate.
To find out more visit www.tickenhamgolf.co.uk/sportivate.htm
5 Issue 6 Summer 2014
New Sportarray Multisports Club - Nailsea
The long-running United Response multisports club in Nailsea has re-launched under the new name of Sportarray Club!
The club meets every Tuesday at Scotch Horn Leisure Centre, 11am – 12 noon, playing a range of sports in the indoor sports hall.
This exciting local sports club is aimed at disabled adults, 16+. It costs £3.50.
Come along and have a go in this fun and sociable group led by local sports instructor Sally Kingston.
For venue details please contact Scotch Horn Leisure Centre on 01275 856 965.
To find out more please give us a call on 01275 882 730 or email [email protected].
Come and try indoor Archery - @Worle!
If you have never tried the fantastic sport of archery, then now’s your chance, as new indoor sessions have started at @Worle in Weston-Super-Mare.
There are two sessions each week, running on Mondays, 5-7pm and 7-9pm.
Both sessions are for ages six upwards (children between the ages of six-10 must be accompanied by an adult) and both groups are inclusive and for all abilities.
The sessions are run by fully qualified Archery GB coaches, who will be there to guide and coach you. The sessions are also open to people who regularly shoot and may wish to practise. All sessions are drop-in on a pay-as-you-go basis, costing £4.50/session. Equipment is provided.
For further details please contact Harry Nash, @Worle Sports and Facilities Trust Manager, on 01934 529 540 or via email to [email protected]
6 Issue 6 Summer 2014
Gymnastics club becomes a new hub for disability sport
A Nailsea gymnastics club has been chosen to take part in a national scheme after leading the way in providing quality sessions for disabled people.
‘I’m In’ is a new disability programme launched by British Gymnastics which aims to create more opportunities for disabled people to take part in the sport.
As well as raising the profile of disability gymnastics and increasing demand, the scheme will support a network of clubs and coaches to plan and deliver quality sessions.
As part of this, Gemini Gymnastics Club in Blackfriars Road has been selected to become one of just 14 Disability Hub Clubs in England which have been chosen for their expertise and track record in providing great opportunities for disabled people.
Each Hub Club is tasked with organising and holding a number of engaging gymnastics taster sessions, festivals and competitive events which will appeal to a wide spectrum of disabled people aged 11 and above.
Gemini Gymnastics Club currently runs two weekly sessions for disabled people and also supports a small number of people in its mainstream classes. It coaches a total of eight people, some with physical additional needs and some on the autistic spectrum.
Director of coaching, Jill Pope, said: “We are thrilled to have been recognised by British Gymnastics as one of the foremost clubs delivering disability gymnastics, and to have been chosen by them to be instrumental in delivering this new initiative for disabled people.”
The club has provisional dates in place for a taster session on 2 August, a festival on 4 October and a competition on 23 November. Look out for confirmation and further details in our next issue.
To find out more about Gemini Gymnastics Club visit www.geminigymclub.com
[adapted from an article in North Somerset Times]
7 Issue 6 Summer 2014
Events
Cycle Hunt – 15 June – Yatton and Winscombe
On Sunday 15 June the Strawberry Line welcomes The Great Galactic Bike Hike that will run between Yatton and Winscombe.
Last year The Great 'themed' Bike Hike successfully drew in a crowd of over 300 people when it was hosted along Festival Way in Long Ashton, in partnership with Birdwell Academy School.
The route is seven miles from one end to the other, but for those looking to embark on a bigger challenge they can try the round trip of 14 miles. To make sure the whole family can enjoy the day, two tiers of questions will be posted along the route – easy and hard.
On the day families can start at either end of the route. All they need to do is sign in at the registration desks and be on their way! The event will start at 10am and finish at 3pm, so participants should ensure they have started the cycle quiz no later than 2.30pm.
Register for the event at https://apps.n-somerset.gov.uk/galacticregister2014 Download a score card for your answers (pdf) at http://tinyurl.com/kf9ky5s
Activities available on the day include: • Bike doctor – on hand to fix bikes • Hot food, snacks and refreshments at Winscombe Cricket Club and the Strawberry Line Café at Yatton Railway Station • StreetGames sessions
… and many more activities still to be confirmed so keep an eye out on the council's Twitter and Facebook feeds.
If you would like to volunteer at the Great Galactic Bike Hike please get in touch by emailing [email protected]
8 Issue 6 Summer 2014
Walk ‘n’ Wheel launched - Nailsea
A new walk for people with wheelchairs, pushchairs and bikes has been set up in Nailsea.
The Rotary Club of Nailsea and Backwell has launched the first Rotary Round Walk ‘n’ Wheel route to make the countryside more accessible to everyone. People can now enjoy a two-and-a-half mile amble around Nailsea and Wraxall on foot or wheels.
Rotary member, David Whittlestone, who came up with the idea, said: “You can walk it - or stroll or run or jog it - or you can wheel it - by scooter or pram or small bike or pushchair or wheelchair.
“There are no steps or stiles or gates, and no steep slopes. But there are ramps at all kerbs. And it has all hard surfaces. The route is on existing urban footpaths, but it goes through wild woodland, has stunning views of Wraxall Church and across the valley.”
It is a 4km round route, which starts and ends at Scotch Horn Leisure Centre, in Brockway, and there is a short cut.
Rotary member, Mike West, said: “We found that when we were looking to do the round Nailsea walk, a lot of people said it would be nice if we could provide a walk for people with wheelchairs and other disabilities.”
The Rotary celebrated the opening of the new route with a mass walk and wheel on 26 April.
A map of the new Rotary Round route is available from Scotch Horn Leisure Centre, Nailsea Library, in Somerset Square, the Tithe Barn, in Church Lane, medical centres and Backwell Post Office.
For more details visit http://tinyurl.com/nvk9pqc
[adapted from an article in North Somerset Times]
9 Issue 6 Summer 2014
Funding
In 2 Biking – Sport England funding boost!
A project offering disabled people in Weston more opportunities to get involved in sport is one of 44 around the country to receive funding from Sport England.
The In 2 Biking club, which will be based at @Worle, will enable children, young people and adults with physical or learning disabilities to take part in regular cycling activities.
It has benefited from £33,346 from the Inclusive Sport Fund to purchase more adapted bikes.
The cash will also be used to provide volunteers with training so they can coach sessions and provide bicycle maintenance and first aid.
Lin Thomas, a trustee and project leader, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be receiving funding from Sport England’s Inclusive Sport Fund.
“It means a great deal to the charity as it provides invaluable funding to help us begin our In 2 Biking club and provides opportunities for disabled children, young people and adults in North Somerset and further afield to get involved in sport.”
To find out more visit www.age2age.org/in2biking.html
[adapted from an article in Weston Mercury]
If your club would like support to apply for funding please give us a call on 01275 882 734 or email [email protected]
10 Issue 6 Summer 2014
Blog on!
Go4Life – North Somerset’s brand for promoting healthy and active lifestyles – has launched its own blog.
It’s the place to go for local news and views on health and exercise, aimed at local partners in physical activity provision.
To see for yourself and to register for free updates visit http://go4lifens.wordpress.com
Sportarray – who to contact
Thanks for reading the Sportarray Roundup. We hope you enjoyed it!
If you have any comments or suggestions about this newsletter it would be great to hear from you. Sportarray is an evolving initiative and we need your input to help develop its scope.
Please contact us via the following methods…
Visit: Castlewood, Tickenham Road, Clevedon, BS21 6BD
Write: Sport and Active Lifestyles team, North Somerset Council, Town Hall, Walliscote Grove Road, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1UJ
Tel: 01275 882 734
Email: [email protected]
Log on: www.n-somerset.gov.uk/sportarray
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