Annual Report April 2016 – March 2017

This document is available in alternative formats on request. Our Mission is:

To ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to live a full, active and healthy lifestyle through sport and active recreation.

Be active. Be the best. Contents

4 Key Achievements 16 Wheelchair Basketball 2016 – 2017 17 Boccia 18 Active Clubs Programme 6 Improving Health and Wellbeing 19 Inclusive Sport Award – Community Sport and 20 Inclusive Club Award Active Recreation 6 The Inclusive Sport and 21 Supporting Inclusion Leisure Initiative – Training, Education and Volunteers 6 Women in Sport ‘FitHer’ Programme 21 Training Courses

7 Live Active NI Projects 22 Inclusive Education Initiatives 7 Every Body Active 2020 Programme 22 5 Star Disability Sports Challenge Education Project 7 Get Out Get Active (GOGA) 22 Disability Awareness 8 Community Events Activity Sessions 22 Volunteers 10 District Council Disability 22 Youth Sport Trust Sports Hub Project Inclusive Futures

12 Improving Access 23 Making It Happen – Sports Facility Access – Governance and 12 Inclusive Sports Facility Representation Advisory Group 23 Governance 12 Sports Facility Design and 23 Core Funding Management Guidelines 23 Active Living: No Limits 13 Inclusive Sports Facility 2016 – 2021 Action Plan (ISF) Accreditation Scheme 23 Representation 14 Developing Sporting Talent – Performance Sport and 24 Annual Accounts Club Development 2016 – 2017 14 Rio 2016 25 Our Board of Directors and 15 Athlete Support Staff 2016 – 2017 15 Pupil to Paralympian: Discovering Hidden Talent 26 Support Us

3 Key Achievements 2016 – 2017

9,502 children and adults enjoyed sport and active recreation through Disability Sport NI this year.

Including: 4,936 children and young people participated in our education and awareness projects.

1,888 people with disabilities took part in our 6 local active recreation projects.

891 people with a disability got active through our Active Clubs Programme.

1,317 children and adults with disabilities competed in our 10 fun-focused community events.

963 sports leaders, coaches, leisure services staff and teachers were trained for disability inclusion in sport.

4 Key Achievements 2016 – 2017

£600,000 investment was secured from the Department for Communities through Sport NI to establish 11 District Council Disability Sports Hubs and 4 water sports projects.

There were 9 athletes from Northern who competed at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games and secured 5 gold medals and 1 silver medal.

We published 4 updated Sports Facilities and Sports Stadia Design and Management Guidelines, as well as Boxing Facilities Guidance Notes and Sports Pavilions Guidance Notes.

There were 2 Governing Bodies of Sport awarded our new Inclusive Sport Award.

The Wheelchair Basketball Programme was further developed.

The Boccia Programme was James MacSorley. Photo credit: BWB Will Johnston further developed.

5 Improving Health and Wellbeing Community Sport and Active Recreation

We improved the health and wellbeing of 1,888 children and adults with disabilities through 6 local sports and active recreation projects, 4 of which were delivered through our new Community Interest Company Live Active NI.

The Inclusive Sport and Leisure Initiative (in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council) The project expanded this year from delivering just within Craigavon to providing a range of inclusive sports programmes throughout the whole borough council area. Following maternity leave, the Inclusive Leisure Officer Colleen Connolly has delivered a range of sports participation opportunities to 183 participants since her return in November. Women in Sport ‘FitHer’ Programme A new pilot programme, funded by Department for Communities through Sport NI, was delivered to increase female participation in sport and challenge negative attitudes towards people with a disability. • There were 6 female sports role models trained to deliver a My Sport, My Story workshop to 500 secondary school pupils. • There were 15 coaches who received training to support disability inclusion in sport. • There were 9 fitness programmes delivered to 45 female participants with a disability.

6 Live Active NI Projects

We successfully launched Live Active NI, our new Community Interest Company and delivered 4 new projects to improve the health and wellbeing of people with disabilities, people with long-term health conditions and other under-represented groups.

Every Body Active 2020 Get Out Get Active (GOGA) Programme The Get Out Get Active Project, funded This Sport NI funded programme, by Spirit of 2012, was launched in managed by Belfast City Council, was January 2017 to support people with successfully launched in December 2016 disabilities and non-disabled people to to increase participation in sport and get active together. active recreation among traditionally under-represented groups. Live Active NI delivered the project within 2 council areas: Armagh City, As a delivery partner, Live Active NI was Banbridge and Craigavon and Derry . responsible for 2 areas: North & West City and Strabane Belfast and South and East Belfast. Active Recreation Officers, Ryan Active Recreation Officers Davy Purdy McQuillan and Kieran Coyle delivered and Pablo Córdoba Huertos successfully a range of activity sessions and events delivered active recreation sessions and to 678 participants. events to 404 participants.

7 Community Events

1,317 children and adults with disabilities competed in 10 fun-focused community events.

Belfast Harbour Commission Junior Paralympic Fun Day Inclusive Walking and Cycling There were 42 children with physical Festival disabilities who tried 13 different sports A total of 210 participants took part in at Girdwood Community Hub in October 4 inclusive walking and cycling events 2016 and met 5 local returning athletes throughout the summer enjoying the from the Rio Paralympic Games. picturesque route between Belfast Harbour Commissioner’s Office and Titanic Belfast.

8 Schools New Age Kurling Sports Hall Athletics Competition Championships There were 22 teams from schools There were 140 school children who throughout who competed at Lagan Valley Leisureplex. competed at Antrim Forum. North West Sports Hall Athletics Schools Boccia Competition Championships A total of 105 participants from schools A total of 70 school children competed at throughout Northern Ireland competed Templemore Sports Complex. at Antrim Forum.

Senior Boccia Competition A total of 80 participants competed at Lisburn Racquets Club.

9 District Council Disability Sports Hub Project

In October 2016, Department for Communities Minister Paul Givan MLA announced a £600,000 investment to fund the development of a Disability Sports Hub in each of Northern Ireland’s 11 District Council areas.

10 Each Disability Sports Hub will have a range of specialist sports wheelchairs, adapted bikes and inclusive sports equipment which will support the inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in at least 14 different sports and activities.

District Council Disability Sports Hub

The project will be complemented by the development of 4 inclusive water sports hubs at Belfast Lough Sailability, Foyle Sailability, Lough Erne Yacht Club and Craigavon Water Sports Centre.

All equipment has been procured and agreements have been reached with all 11 District Councils with a view to launching the project in September 2017.

11 Improving Access Sports Facility Access

Inclusive Sports Facility Advisory Group The Inclusive Sports Facility (ISF) Advisory Group consists of representatives from key disability organisations who met regularly throughout the year, progressing issues related to sports facilities and stadia.

They also liaised with sports facility operators and designers, encouraging and supporting them to improve the experience of people with disabilities using sports facilities. Access advice was given on key projects to the National Stadium at Windsor Park and on the new designs for Casement Park.

Sports Facility Design and Management Guidelines We launched 4 updated Sports Facilities and Sports Stadia Design and Management Guidelines, as well as Boxing Facilities Guidance Notes and Sports Pavilions Guidance Notes in December 2016.

The guidelines have been endorsed by the Inclusive Sports Facility Advisory Group.

12 Guide Guide 1 Guide 1 2 Guide 2 Accessible Accessible Sports Sports Facilities Facilities Accessible Accessible Sports Design Sports Facilities Management Facilities Design Management Guidelines Guidelines Guidelines Guidelines 2016 Edition 2016 Edition

whitenoisestudios.com Design by www.dsni.co.uk whitenoisestudios.com Design by www.dsni.co.uk

Guidance 1_Accessible Sports Facilities Design Guidelines.indd 1 01/12/2016 08:23 Guidance 2_Accessible Sports Facilities Management Guidelines .indd 1 01/12/2016 08:22

Guide Guide 3 Guide 3 4 Guide 4 Accessible Accessible Sports Sports Stadia Stadia Accessible Accessible Sports Stadia Design Sports Stadia Management Design Management Guidelines Guidelines Guidelines Guidelines 2016 Edition 2016 Edition

whitenoisestudios.com Design by www.dsni.co.uk whitenoisestudios.com Design by www.dsni.co.uk

Guidance 3_Accessible Sports Stadia Design Guidelines.indd 1 01/12/2016 08:22 Guidance 4_Accessible Sports Stadia Management Guidelines.indd 1 01/12/2016 08:21

Guidance Guidance Notes Boxing Notes Sports Facilities Pavilions Guidance Notes Guidance Notes

Boxing Sports Facilities Pavilions

2016 Edition 2016 Edition

whitenoisestudios.com Design by www.dsni.co.uk whitenoisestudios.com Design by www.dsni.co.uk

Guidance notes_NI Boxing Facilities.indd 1 01/12/2016 08:21 Guidance notes_Sports Pavilions.indd 1 01/12/2016 08:20

The new guidance documents have been Sport NI’s Inclusive Sports Facility (ISF) developed to encourage facility operators Accreditation. and designers to develop sports facilities and stadia that are more inclusive of The ISF Accreditation recognises sports people with disabilities. facilities that meet optimum levels of good practice in terms of access for Inclusive Sports Facility (ISF) people with disabilities. Accreditation Scheme In partnership with ‘All In Access To date, 11 facilities have successfully Consultancy’ we continued to support achieved accreditation and 5 facilities a range of sports facilities throughout are working towards accreditation. Northern Ireland to secure Disability

13 Developing Sporting Talent Performance Sport and Club Development

“It is hard to describe how incredible it is to cross the line first on such a big occasion. I am very grateful I have a good team around me playing such an important role. “Over the past few years Northern Ireland has been gaining its reputation for punching well above its weight when it comes to international success in para athletics with a very high medal return rate.” Jason Smyth, Rio Paralympian, Athletics

Michael McKillop and Jason Smyth. Photo credit: Paralympics Ireland

Rio 2016 Paralympic Games Northern Ireland athletes continued to lead the way on the world stage excelling at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. A record number of 9 local athletes were selected to represent both Paralympics Ireland and Paralympics GB.

Collectively the athletes took home 6 medals including 5 gold.

The 9 athletes from The 3 athletes who Northern Ireland were: won medals were: Paralympics GB: Swimming Bethany Firth – Swimming Bethany Firth Katie Morrow – Wheelchair Basketball 100m Backstroke – Gold Claire Taggart – Boccia 200m Freestyle – Gold David Leavy – CP Football 200m IM – Gold 100m Breaststroke – Silver Paralympics Ireland: Jason Smyth – Athletics Athletics Michael McKillop – Athletics Jason Smyth Philip Eaglesham – Shooting 100m Track – Gold Cormac Birt – CP Football Michael McKillop Ryan Walker – CP Football 1500m – Gold

14 Athlete Support Pupil to Paralympian: Many Paralympic athletes are now Discovering Hidden Talent managed and supported by their Disability Sport NI continued to broaden mainstream governing bodies of sport. its talent ID programmes by delivering a However, Disability Sport NI continued new Pupil to Paralympian Workshop for to support a number of athletes during teachers, trainee teachers and classroom the year through securing Sport NI assistants. funding for athletes, managing athlete agreements and liaising with National British and Irish Governing Bodies of 185 teachers took part in the Sport, the Sports Institute of Northern workshop. Ireland, Paralympics Ireland and Paralympics GB. Athletes included: The 2.5 hour workshop provides Bethany Firth – Swimming participants with the knowledge and Claire Taggart – Boccia skills to: Katie Morrow – Wheelchair Basketball • Encourage and support pupils with Kelly Gallagher – Alpine Skiing disabilities to get involved in school and club sport Disability Sport NI also secured • Advise and educate pupils with development grants from the Mary Peters disabilities on sporting opportunities Trust for the following athletes: available to them Ross Gourley – Wheelchair Tennis • Identify and signpost potential James MacSorley – Wheelchair Basketball sporting talent Amy McMillan – Deaf Badminton • Inspire the next generation of John Nicholl – Deaf/Blind Archery athletes with disabilities William Graham – Boccia

15 Katie Morrow in action. Photo credit: BWB Will Johnston

Wheelchair Basketball Katie Morrow became the first athlete The Sport NI funded Wheelchair from Northern Ireland to compete at Basketball Programme was successfully the Paralympic Games in wheelchair delivered by our Wheelchair Basketball basketball. Through Paralympics Performance Officer, Phil Robinson. GB, Katie competed at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games with the GB Women’s • The Under 15 Squad won the British Wheelchair Basketball Team, securing Wheelchair Basketball Championships a top 4 position, their highest ranking in April. position in a Paralympics to date. • Teams competed in the Celtic Cup, National Junior Championships and UK School Games. Katie Morrow and James MacSorley have been named by British Wheelchair • Regular High Performance Centre Basketball as Tokyo 2020 Paralympic and Regional Performance Centre Games athletes. sessions weekly and bi-weekly throughout the year.

16 Boccia The Northern Ireland programme was successfully implemented during the year, including the organisation and delivery of: • Monthly training sessions for the Northern Ireland Squad • The Northern Ireland League • Coaching support to talented players • The Northern Ireland Squad’s participation in the GB National Championships in July 2016

Following a silver medal at the World Open in Portugal and a bronze medal at the GB Nationals, Claire Taggart became the first athlete from NI to compete in the Paralympic Games in the sport of boccia. Claire and her BC1/2 team mates secured a top 8 position at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Claire has also been named as a Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games athlete.

“As I am an athlete on the world-class programme, I experience a lot of physio, hydro and a lot of social benefits. I have made a lot of friends and am travelling the world playing a sport that I love.” Claire Taggart, Rio Paralympian, Boccia

17 “When I was at school I hated sports. I was always the one excluded when teams were picked. I’m now 50 years of age and they always said life begins at 40, well my life has begun at 50 thanks to Disability Sport NI with my tennis.” Debbie Shaw, Participant

Active Clubs Programme The Sport NI, National Lottery funded Active Clubs Programme was successfully implemented during the year. Active Clubs Co-Ordinators Odhrán Doherty and Judith Brennan continued working with a number of mainstream clubs and disability organisations on developing regular and sustainable inclusive sports club opportunities. The project focuses on people with sight loss and physical disabilities.

891 people benefited from the Active Clubs Programme.

18 Inclusive Sport Award We continued to encourage and support governing bodies of sport to be more inclusive of people with disabilities through the Inclusive Sport Award.

To date, the award has been presented to 2 governing bodies of sport and we continue to work through a detailed action plan with each organisation to ensure continued inclusion in their sport: • Irish Football Association • Athletics NI

We continue to work with 4 other governing bodies of sport on the development of their disability action plans with a view to securing the Inclusive Sport Award next year: • Ulster Rugby • Ulster Badminton • Swim Ulster • RYA NI

19 “We would do classes where participants have to think for themselves or have to teach us. It teaches them to learn visually and by our instructions. We then take them through the skills, developing all three learning processes for the gymnast.” Stephanie Martin, Rathgael Gymnastics and Tumbling Club

Inclusive Club Award The Inclusive Club Award scheme was developed by our Performance Sport Manager, Elaine Reid to recognise clubs who were being inclusive of people with disabilities.

Congratulations to this year’s winners Inclusive Disability Club of the Year: Belfast Lough Sailability

Inclusive Mainstream Club of the Year: Rathgael Gymnastics and Tumbling Club

20 Supporting Inclusion Training, Education and Volunteers

Training Courses

58 courses delivered to 963 participants.

The Disability Sport NI training supports sports leaders, coaches, leisure services staff and teachers to better include people with disabilities in sport and active recreation.

This year we delivered the following courses: 17 Disability Inclusion Training 4 Pupil to Paralympian 11 Sainsbury’s Active Kids For All 1 Boccia Level 1 7 Boccia Leaders Award 1 Boccia Referees 5 Inclusive Games 1 Wheelchair Basketball Grade 1 3 Inclusive Skills 1 Wheelchair Sports Skills 3 Autism and Sport 4 Bespoke Training

21 Inclusive Education Initiatives

A total of 4,936 children and young people participated in education and awareness projects to challenge and address negative attitudes and misconceptions about people with a disability.

5 Star Disability Sports Volunteers Challenge Education Project There were 82 volunteers who kindly gave up their time to help us deliver There were 3,240 children in 25 schools who took part in the Sport NI and our programmes throughout the year. Department for Communities funded ‘5 We would like to say a big thank you on Star Disability Sports Challenge’ between behalf of the charity. January and March 2017. Youth Sport Trust Inclusive Disability Awareness Futures – Lead Your Generation Activity Sessions Project Last year 1,696 participants took part in The Youth Sport Trust project was 33 activity-based disability awareness successfully delivered within the first sessions. 6 months of the year to boost youth leadership and volunteering amongst young people. Sessions included disability sports festivals for youth clubs, Paralympic themed ‘Road Show’ events and disability Inclusive Futures Officer, Mark sports-themed summer schemes to raise Montgomery and a volunteer attended the profile of the charity and awareness the UK Youth Sport School Games of disability sports. in Loughborough on 2nd and 3rd September for a final Inclusive Futures event to celebrate the success of the concluding UK wide project.

22 Making It Happen Governance and Representation

Governance Department of Health, Department of Education, Sport NI, the Northern To ensure that the charity continued to Ireland Sports Forum, Disability Action meet optimum levels of good practice in and Disability Sport NI. Following the governance, Disability Sport NI continued launch of the action plan, membership to review and update its policies and of the project board was extended to procedures on a 3 year cycle throughout include Special Olympics Ulster, Deaf the reporting period, maintaining its robust Sport NI, the Blind Sports Network NI level of assurance from Sport NI. and the Chief Leisure Officers Association (CLOA). Core Funding Funding of £719,665 has been secured Representation from Sport NI’s Sporting Winners Disability Sport NI continued to represent and Sporting Clubs Programmes to the interests of people with disabilities on deliver performance and competition the following key national organisations programmes in the sports of wheelchair and committees: basketball, boccia and para snow sport during the 2017 – 2021 period. • Active Living: No Limits 2021 Forum This follows on from the successful • British Paralympic Association negotiation of a generous new core National Paralympic Committee funding package with Sport NI last year (Paralympics GB) to allow the charity to implement its • GB Boccia ambitious new 2016 – 2020 period. • Sport Matters Implementation Group (SMIG) Active Living: No Limits 2016 – • UK Home Country Disability Sports 2021 Action Plan Organisations’ Chief Executive Officers Forum Disability Sport NI played a key role in • UK Disability Sport Training and the development of Active Living: No Education Source Group Limits 2021, a new action plan launched in October 2016 to improve the health and wellbeing of people with disabilities Disability Sport NI also maintained in Northern Ireland through participation a close working relationship with in sport and active recreation. Paralympics Ireland and the British Wheelchair Basketball Association. The plan was developed by a project board consisting of representatives from the Department for Communities,

23 Annual Accounts 2016 – 2017

A full set of the charity’s audited accounts for the period is available on the Disability 19.6% Sport NI website, however an overview 3.2% of the organisation’s financial position of 2.2% 1.7% Income 69.5% the year 1st April 2016 – 31st March 2017 is 1.4% provided below: 1.7% 0.7%

The total income for the financial year was£1,226,806 compared with £609,818 in the previous year. Total Sport NI Grants expenditure for the financial year was£1,187,362 compared to £586,708 in the previous year. Sport NI Core Grant Other Grants The large increase in income and expenditure during Training Income the year compared to the previous year was largely as a result of a significant capital investment in the District Donations Council Disability Sports Hub Project by the Department Sponsorship for Communities as outlined on page 10. Other Income Consultancy Income The organisation made a surplus for the year of £39,444 (£21,954 of this is restricted funds compared with a surplus of £20,110 in the previous year). Accumulated funds at the end of the year therefore increased from £153,357 to £192,801. 4.8%

3.4% Expenditure 64.9% 2.3% Funders 2016 – 2017 2.6% 22%

Performance Sport and Club Development Community Participation and Competition Training, Education and Volunteering Sports Facility Access Strategic Planning and Policy Development Communications and Engagement

24 Our Board of Directors and Staff 2016 – 2017

Directors Judith Brennan, Inclusive Community Barry Macaulay, Chairperson Coach (to Sept 2016) Angela Hendra MBE, Vice Chairperson David Purdy, Inclusive Community Coach (to Sept 2016) Darren Cave Patricia O’Neill, Women in Sport Project Dawn McGookin Co-ordinator (Nov 2016 – Mar 2017) Ken Armstrong Rebecca Greenaway, Women in Sport Laura-Lee Jenkins Project Assistant (Jan – Mar 2017) Michael Hilland Sam Bridge, Sports Development Assistant Michael McAteer MBE (Jan – Mar 2017) Orla Fox David Leavy, Sports Development Stephen Friel Assistant (Jan – Mar 2017)

Honorary President Live Active NI Board of Dr Janet Gray MBE, Honorary President Directors and Staff

Staff Directors Kevin O’Neill, Chief Executive Officer Barry Macaulay, Chairperson Karen Drennan, Finance and Kevin O’Neill Business Manager Karen Drennan Aubrey Bingham, Community Aubrey Bingham Sport Manager Elaine Reid Elaine Reid, Performance Sport Manager Anita O’Connor, Administrator Staff Andrea Kilpatrick, Communications and Vicki Kennedy, Manager Engagement Officer (from Nov 2016) (from Oct 2016) Philip Robinson, Wheelchair Basketball David Purdy, Active Recreation Officer, Performance Officer Belfast (from Dec 2016) Odhrán Doherty, Active Clubs Coordinator Pablo Córdoba Huertos, Active Recreation Mark Montgomery, Community Sport Officer, Belfast (from Jan 2017) Development Officer Kieran Coyle, Active Recreation Officer, Colleen Connolly, Inclusive Sports and Derry City and Strabane DC Leisure Officer, Craigavon (from Nov 2016) Vicki Kennedy, Active Clubs Coordinator Ryan McQuillan, Active Recreation Officer, (to Sept 2016) Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon BC Linsey McKeown, Inclusive Community (from Nov 2016) Coach (to Sept 2016)

25 Support Us

Did you know that 374,646 people in Northern Ireland have a disability or long-term health condition but are half as likely to participate in sport and active recreation as non-disabled people?

How you can support Disability Sport NI:

• Make a donation • Legacy giving • Volunteering • Nominate us as your charity of the year • Sponsor a Disability Sport NI event or programme • Book a Disability Sport NI Team Building Challenge • Take part in our Virtual Wheelchair Marathon • Do a ‘Steps for Disability Sports’ Challenge

26 Our Vision is:

An inclusive society where people with disabilities fully participate in all aspects oflife, including sport and active recreation.

Be active. Be the best. Designed by: whitenoisestudios.com www.dsni.co.uk Belfast BT3 9ED BT3 Belfast Disability Sport NI Unit F, Curlew Pavilion Pavilion Curlew Unit F, 189 Airport Road West West Airport Road 189 Portside Business Park Park Business Portside Email: [email protected] 9046 9925 028 Telephone: 9046 3494 028 Textphone: company limited by guarantee, No. NI32590 NI32590 No. guarantee, by limited company Disability Sport NI is registered with The Charity with The Disability Sport NI is registered Commission Northern Ireland, NIC 102838 and is a NIC 102838 Northern Ireland, Commission