Wheelchair project promotes equality
A sports initiative which tackles disability issues has got a sponsorship boost from Lincolnshire Co-operative.
The Wheelchair Sports Project will see schools, youth groups, businesses and community organisations taking part in wheelchair sport. The scheme, run by Lincolnshire Sports Partnership, aims to engage people with disabilities and to raise awareness of disability issues.
Over the life of the project, it is hoped most secondary school pupils in the county will take part in a programme which involves learning how to use sports wheelchairs and playing different sports, including basketball, tennis, badminton and football.
To run the project, the Lincolnshire Sports Partnership has 170 manual sports wheelchairs and 10 sports powerchairs alongside trailers to store and transport them.
Two Manual Wheelchair Sports Development Officers spend a day a week in each school during the two term programme. They start off going through the basics, such as manoeuvring the chairs. They then develop skills, such as dribbling and shooting in basketball, and the kids end up playing full games.
PE teachers can also take an induction course so they can run sessions with the wheelchairs and can develop their own lessons including a variety of sports.
Lincolnshire Co-operative is sponsoring the scheme with £23,000 over five years.
Membership and Community Manager Sam Turner said: “We’re proud to support this project because believe in the equality message behind it.
“It aims to allow able bodied people to experience sport in a wheelchair and also allows people who have disabilities to play sports with their peers in an equal way.” To get involved in the Wheelchair Sports Programme contact the Lincolnshire Sports Partnership on (01522) 585580, email office@lincolnshiresports.co.uk or visit www.lincolnshiresports.co.uk











































































