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Inclusive Community Coaches skilled up and raring to go...
Fifteen recruits from the sporting community across Northern Ireland have completed training as Inclusive Community Coaches. The training project established by Disability Sports NI, supported by Sport Northern Ireland and funded by Big Lottery, was set up to increase the number of organised participation opportunities available to people with disabilities in local communities throughout Northern Ireland. As a result of this innovative project, the sporting needs of people with a disability will be better addressed by ensuring that participation opportunities are provided in an inclusive environment – a sporting environment that focuses on enabling the participant rather than one which focuses on the individual’s ‘disability’.
The training took place over several months and consisted of both written and practical exercises with a final assessment at the end of June. The applicants covered Inclusive Games Training, Games for All Leadership, Disability Awareness, Coaching Sport Safely, Sports Injuries First Aid and Child Protection. The ‘Inclusive Community Coaches’ now have the skills and knowledge required to run a range of inclusive sports, games and multi skills sessions for children and adults with disabilities and their non-disabled peers and will now deliver 20 hours of volunteering coaching within their ‘host’ community sport organisation. After completion of their voluntary hours, the coaches will then be available to deliver activity sessions across Northern Ireland. To book a coach, simply contact Disability Sports NI: Tel 9038 7062 or [email protected]
Speaking about the programme, the Chief Executive of Sport Northern Ireland, Eamonn McCartan commented: “Sport Northern Ireland through our ongoing partnership with Disability Sports Northern Ireland continues to promote and develop a wide range of programmes and initiatives which are improving the provision of opportunities for people with disabilities at all levels of sport. These coaches now have the knowledge and skills to make a real impact in their local communities and I look forward to hearing of their work – when they have completed their 20 hours of volunteering, they will also have increased their practical experience.”
Aubrey Bingham, Senior Development Officer with Disability Sports NI added: “The commitment the coaches have shown over all 7 weekend sessions has been tremendous and DSNI is quite energized that we now have a pool of talented coaches who will be able to deliver activity sessions at a local level in any part of Northern Ireland”.
To find out more about the Inclusive Community Coaches Project or to book a coach to deliver an activity session/programme in your area, Tel: DSNI 9038 7062, [email protected] or visit www.dsni.co.uk
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