Developing Sports Disability Programmes

Xcessible Bronze Award Poster stating SSRP have achieved the ADI Bronze Award

SSRP has a Sports Inclusion Disability Officer (SIDO), to oversee the management of the sports inclusion project. The aim of the SIDO project is to increase participation by people with a disability in sport and active recreation.

SSRP are delighted to announce that we have secured the the Active Disability Ireland Xcessible Bronze Award.

The Xcessible programme is an inclusive programme designed for National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) and Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) to positively and meaningfully provide opportunities for people with disabilities to take part in sport and physical activity.

The project objectives include:

Sustainable Participation: Support sustainable participation opportunities for people with disabilities through the provision of quality initiatives, engaging with the existing clubs and the wider community
Partnerships: Create effective partnerships to underpin the development of sustainable participation for people with disabilities in sport, fitness and physical activity
Capacity Building: Encourage clubs and volunteers to support the participation for people with disabilities through the facilitation of training, information and awareness-raising.
Awareness: Provide information and promote all opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in sustainable sport, fitness and physical activity at local, regional and national level

This is achieved through the provision of inclusive activities and programmes facilitated through a range of sports clubs and in identified community settings.

Below are some examples of Club/Community led inclusive initiatives.

Enjoy Tennis Programme

Enjoy Tennis is a programme developed by Tennis Ireland in conjunction with local services, groups involved in the provision of activities for people with disabilities.

The aim of the programme is to create access to Tennis for people with disabilities. The initiative in Sligo currently caters for people with Intellectual Disabilities through its ID Tennis programme and for people who are Visually Impaired through its Blind Tennis programme.

Sligo Tennis Club is now linked with the programme which takes place on a weekly basis.

Tandem Cycling

This initiative targets people with a visual impairment. SSRP provides tandem road bikes to people with a visual impairment who would like to try out the sport of cycling. The programme relies on the availability of sighted pilots to support people with visual impairments to avail of regular spins.

If someone in your community is interested in becoming a tandem pilot please contact Shane Hayes on 071 9161511 or shane@sligosportandrecreation.ie

Horse Riding

There are currently a number of elements to the Horse Riding programme for adults and young people with a disability available through the SSRP Sports Inclusion Project. A series of programmes targeting both adults and young people of all ability levels continue to be facilitated and delivered through Keash Equestrian Centre.

These initiatives including an Equine Assisted Therapy programme promote and encourage independence through participation and life learning with a specific emphasis on fostering positive physical and mental health.

Eilish Divine at Keash Equestrian Centre on 0876772094 or www.keashequestrian.com

Open Archery

Archery for people with a disability has been operating successfully in Sligo through a partnership established between SSRP and the Carrowmore Archers Club.

The club delivers regular Archery training days on a needs basis to promote the sport further and give people with a disability the opportunity to try out the sport of Archery. The training days are delivered by experienced and qualified Archery instructors.

Athletics

The Xcessible Indoor Athletics programme targets primary school aged children (5 – 12 yr olds) with disabilities attending both special schools and Autism Units within mainstream schools in County Sligo.

The children involved participate in a school based programme delivered by qualified Athletics coaches culminating in an Xcessible Indoor Athletics Festival. Following this a pathway of participation has been established with Sligo AC to enable children who would like to continue participating in the sport of Athletics to do so through the local club.

Gym Able

Gym Able is an inclusive Gymnastics programme developed by Gymnastics Ireland to increase opportunities for people with disabilities to engage in the sport of Gymnastics.

In Sligo the initiative is run by SSRP in conjunction with local Gymnastics club Dy Namo who provides support in the form of qualified coaches and state of the art Gym facilities.

The programmes are currently run on an outreach basis through local special schools and disability units within mainstream schools.

Surfing

The Sports Inclusion Disability programme facilitates a number of Surfing initiatives targeting young people with disabilities. They include ‘Surf 4 All’ and ‘Surf Therapy’ which are supported through local Surf clubs and Surf schools in County Sligo.

male participants standing on surf board riding a wave to shore

Partner Based Initiatives

Partner Based Initiatives:
SSRP collaborates closely with a number of local organisations and sports clubs to provide increased opportunities for people with a disability to engage in quality and meaningful sport and physical activity sessions.

These include:

Football for All / Sligo Rovers FC / contact fsr@sligorovers.com
GAA All Stars / Curry GAA, Tubbercurry GAA, Castleconnor GAA, St Mary’s GAA, Shamrock Gaels GAA, Coolaney/Mullinabreena GAA,
contact shane@sligosportandrecreation.ie for club contacts
Inclusive Lawn Bowls / Sligo Lawn Bowls Club / contact sligolawnbowlspro@gmail.com
Fit and Fun / HSE Health & Wellbeing / contact darragh.mclynn@hse.ie
Zumba Dance / HSE Health & Wellbeing / contact darragh.mclynn@hse.ie

Find Out More

If your club or community would like to find out more about facilitating programming for people with a disability please contact:

Shane Hayes
Sports Inclusion Disability Officer
071 9161511
shane@sligosportandrecreation.ie

Volunteering Opportunities

Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership currently run a range of sporting and active recreational programmes and initiatives for people with a disability in County Sligo. Central to the success of these programmes is the recruitment of suitable volunteers to assist and support the participants during these activities. SSRP is always looking for volunteers to assist in this area.

There may also be additional volunteering opportunities with SSRP on our various other programmes and initiatives in addition to the Sports Inclusion Disability programme. If this is of interest to you please Shane Hayes, Sports Inclusion Disability Officer to explore these opportunities further:

071 9161511
shane@sligosportandrecreation.ie

Developing Sports Disability Programmes

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