ALL IN THE SAME BOAT: MIXED ABILITY ROWING IN PRACTICE Dr. Jen Dyer Mixed Ability (MA) sport is challenging charts the first year of MA rowing at BARC. grassroots clubs to think differently about The club’s experience provides invaluable inclusion. Bradford Amateur Rowing Club learning on aspects of MA rowing and MA sport (BARC) was the first to embrace MA rowing as as a whole including opportunities, challenges, part of the Mixed Ability Sports Development timelines, personal stories, impacts and key Programme (MASDP) led by IMAS and funded learnings for the future. by Sport England. This research summary Key findings • MA rowing does not require significant • Continued training across a club is critical to infrastructural changes to the club and its ensure members understand what MA is, and facilities. This was one of the main reasons to reduce the challenges for those involved. BARC opted to implement it, and might BARC members have so far only received make it more attractive to other clubs too. the initial IMAS training. Developing a network of experienced MA • At the outset, club members raised • participants could provide valuable, ongoing concerns about the introduction of MA, support, guidance and reinforcement of good particularly around risk and ease of practice. Those involved with MA rowing at communication. Discussing these issues BARC would have liked more information early on, in collaboration with MA trainers, and support up front. will help alleviate these worries. • The culture of a club is likely to be key in • The potential for a fully authentic MA offering whether an MA offering will be successful. at BARC was affected by a range of factors BARC is viewed as a very welcoming club including: timing of sessions, opportunities with an emphasis on participation. for social interaction, membership models, • MA rowing at BARC has had significant recruitment and available resources. Clubs positive impacts at the individual, club and need guidance to be able to consider all broader societal level. MA has the potential these aspects carefully. to transform grassroots sports. December 2018 www.mixedabilitysports.org All in the same boat! A case study of MA rowing All in the same boat! A case study of MA rowing About BARC Introducing MA rowing BARC is a British Rowing affiliated club with A focus group held before MA started revealed ‘People with disabilities wanted around 150 members. It is situated on the a mix of concerns and eagerness to proceed River Aire in Baildon. BARC celebrated its amongst BARC committee members. to take part in the club properly. 150th anniversary in 2017. Those who attended the IMAS presentation They wanted to take part in the BARC embraced MA rowing as part of the Mixed at BARC in December 2016 had an excellent social life of the club.’ Ability Sports Development Programme (MASDP) understanding of the MA concept. Those who led by International Mixed Ability Sports (IMAS) hadn’t attended were less clear as to how MA and funded by Sport England. The club is known differed from disability rowing. for being friendly and welcoming, but wanted to become more inclusive and better represent the ‘The Model that was described to us ... made community. When Celia Hickson became President clear that people with disabilities wanted to in September 2014 she made inclusivity a key take part in the club properly. They wanted to development area for the club. MA rowing was take part in the social life of the club ... rather seen as a great way to achieve this aim because than being in their own kind of ghetto or their IMAS advised that they could work with the existing own enclave. So the whole point was club facilities rather than make significant financial participation in the wider club.’ investments to include ‘disability rowing’ facilities. Keith Myers, BARC Committee member, BARC chose to secure additional funding in order attended IMAS presentation, to purchase touring boats which are slightly more Dec 2016 stable for beginner rowers. The club’s charitable status enabled its members to apply for a variety of grants to support MA, raising over £10,000 in additional funds. ‘Rowing is a brilliant sport. Early concerns Early motivations It’s cardiovascular, non-weight- Resourcing MA rowing: To give back: bearing, it’s outdoors, with Volunteer resources are already stretched at There was a strong desire to give back to the BARC and MA will reduce capacity further. club and to the sport of rowing through MA. people, very social, and it’s a Types of disability: Coaching satisfaction: team-based sport, so it should Most people felt comfortable and familiar with Coaching new people, helping them meet their goals be available to everyone.’ physical disability but less confident about supporting and improve was a key motivation for developing MA. people with learning disabilities, largely due to fears Celia Hickson, Inclusive ethos: President of BARC over communication. This was particularly in relation to risk, concerning the ability of MA rowers to respond BARC promotes an inclusive ethos and MA was quickly in an emergency, which is critical given the seen as contributing to this. dynamic context of a river system. Club benefits: ‘I think, I’ll lay my cards on the table and say MA rowing was seen as a way to increase and What is Mixed Ability? I think I’d find it very difficult to coach someone diversify membership, as well as shaping BARC’s reputation for innovation. Many people face significant barriers to and learning through interactive and accessible with learning difficulties. Physical difficulties I can participating in mainstream sport through, training and resources. This creates sporting cope with, but learning difficulties is a bit tricky.’ for example, disability, age, gender, background environments that are safe, welcoming and Chris Morley, or poor self-perception. MA sport takes an non-judgemental. MA emphasises the importance BARC Committee member, innovative approach to breaking down these of regular, frequent and sustainable activities, MA coach and volunteer coordinator barriers. MA participants from a wide range of self-determination, club membership and backgrounds and abilities share experiences opportunities for social interaction for all. 2 3 All in the same boat! A case study of MA rowing All in the same boat! A case study of MA rowing MA rowing timeline June 2017 October 2017 - March 2018 Research focus group with committee prior Training continued to start of MA rowing MA beginner numbers September 2016 dropped from four to two MA rowing sessions Sport England December March 2017 started Tuesday 22 May 2018 funding confirmed June with four beginners Sunday morning 2016 BARC received and around 25 members of February 2016 sessions started with £3,000 from the BARC on the volunteer rota IMAS presentation one existing MA rower IMAS-led stakeholder Rowing Foundation at BARC to attending and two new consultation in introduce the MA members from the club Bradford about Sport Model to the Club August 2017 joining the MA session England bid to trial (five members of MA sport beyond Committee present Land training continued as rugby fewer volunteers available Research interviews and British Rowing with BARC members Disability Officer) over the summer October - March - September 2017 June 2018 November 2016 September 2016 BARC’s Autumn Regatta BARC’s Annual Sprint BARC, supported by Regatta with the first MA rowing idea was the first club event to British Rowing Disability MA crew race ‘The introduced and be attended by one of the Officer, submitted February 2017 May 2017 MA rowers as a spectator 4-Michaels’ discussed (led by three funding bids to BARC received BARC received and helper with logistics the BARC President) supplement Mixed Ability £5,000 from the £2,819 from the Research interviews at BARC committee Sport Development First training ‘on the water’ Gannett Foundation Peter Harrison Trust with BARC members meetings Programme (MASDP) funding for equipment Ordered new touring boats for MA rowing which are Methodology slightly more stable MA participants This research summary presents key themes and learning emerging recruited through from BARC’s MA rowing journey. Data were gathered through: existing IMAS • a focus group with seven members of the BARC Committee activities, open days July 2017 in May 2017; and presentations. Land training for MA April 2018 • interviews with ten members of the club, including those involved crew using rowing Volunteers recruited BARC ‘War of the and not involved in MA rowing, in May - July 2018; machines and cycling through BARC. Roses’ event attended • participant observation at BARC between May 2017 and July 2018. New touring boats by one of the MA arrived at BARC rowers 4 5 All in the same boat! A case study of MA rowing All in the same boat! A case study of MA rowing Challenges and opportunities of MA rowing Key learnings Over the first year of developing MA rowing, there were some clear areas which worked MA training across a club is crucial to ensure • Informal club events are an excellent way to well and others which were more challenging. • understanding of MA and to reduce challenges encourage the integration of MA rowers and for those involved. raise awareness of MA more broadly. Peer education and training The club environment • Preliminary training at the introduction stage • Alternative financial models, such as sessional payments, could increase accessibility of club BARC had only had the initial presentation from IMAS The culture of BARC, as a welcoming club that could focus on the issues likely to arise, followed membership for MA participants. rather than the full MA peer training and accreditation. caters for all ages and supports social as well as by additional sessions when specific challenges This had resulted in a lack of guidance and competition rowing, made it easier to introduce have been identified by supporters of the • Clubs need to work with IMAS to develop understanding around MA, which is explored further MA to the club.