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On Friday 22nd July Disability Sports Coach hosted it’s largest Festival to date at The Westway Sports and Fitness Centre in west London. Over 400 disabled young people and adults took part in 20 different sports, indoors and outdoors. The festival was delivered as part of DSC’s Sport England funded Community Club project. Sports on offer on the day included use of the Westway’s climbing wall, tennis, golf, dance and new age kurling. Research is under way to see how many people tried new sports on the day!
The festival played hosted to a wide range of disabilities and ages, replicating our Community Club ethos that all disabled people can be united through sport. The 20 sports available on the day were accessible to all disabilities showcasing that with the right coaches and set up in pace there need not exist participation barriers for disabled people in sport. As well as DSC Community Club participants from 11 boroughs, youth groups, day centres, schools and individuals pan London attended the festival.
Peter Ackred, DSC CEO, commented “The attendance at this year’s Summer Festival doubled from last year’s event. This shows us that determination and hard work in wanting to and believing in giving disabled people more equal opportunities through sport and physical activity is having true impact. Thank you to everyone that helped us make the day such a success and we will strive to ensure that more disabled people continue to experience both the social and physical benefits of sport.”
DSC’s first ever Community Club awards ceremony was also part of the Fesival.Paralympic swimmer and BBC broadcaster Kate Grey presented the clubman and women of the year award as well as the Jack Petchey achievement awards. A representative from The Jack Petchey Foundation was also present at the ceremony and spoke about the importance of belief and determination within sport and in all that you do.
DSC Patron and Judo Paralympian medallist Ben Quilter (London 2012) and long jumper Ryan Raghoo (Rio 2016) also attended the Festival to share their sporting stories and motivate all who attended the Festival to continue taking part in sport and exercise.
We must not forget the work of our DSC coaches, 15 volunteers and delivery partners who ensured over 400 disabled people had the chance to not only take part in an array of sports but also to find out information about new local and weekly sports opportunities. All delivery partners’ at the festival work alongside DSC’s Community Club project throughout the year to enhance the richness of club participants’ sporting experience.
If you are interested in joining your Community Club please, contact DSC’s Club Development Officer Emma Cranston on 02070210973 or email emma@disabilitysportscoach.co.uk. All clubs return in September.
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