New Charter to be unveiled to get many more disabled people active
More sport and physical activity providers will be asked to commit their support to a new Charter, which aims to improve the number of active disabled people. The English Federation of Disability Sport’s Charter for Change will be unveiled by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Gerry Sutcliffe MP at an important occasion within the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday 24 February. The Charter outlines the key changes needed to ensure many more disabled people can reap the benefits of being active for life.
The charity’s Honorary President, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, will launch the English Federation of Disability Sport’s (EFDS) Charter for Change in an evening session also hosted by Gerry Sutcliffe MP (Chair of the Disability Sports All Party Parliamentary Group). The event will help many get out of the starting block to make real changes that will lead to many more disabled people accessing and continuing in sporting opportunities.
Calling for more providers to commit to the Charter for Change, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson said:
"Being active has so many
social, health and economic benefits for everyone. So it is concerning that
more organisations do not prioritise disabled people’s activity in their work.
We know it is not one simple change needed to improve the continual low numbers
of active disabled people. It could involve many short or long term changes. I
am delighted to be a part of the Charter’s launch and hope to see more
organisations commit to change.”
In January, figures released for Sport England’s Active People Survey 8 showed 121,700 fewer disabled people participated in the period October 2013-2014 since the previous recording. The main reductions were in swimming, athletics and fitness and conditioning. The gap between non-disabled and disabled people’s participation has widened, with less than half the number of disabled people taking part in sport or physical activity for 30 minutes once a week, compared to non-disabled people.
However, research shows that most disabled people are not as active as they would like to be and that demand is not being met. EFDS’s Lifestyle Report released in 2013 found that seven in ten disabled people want to increase their physical activity.
The Charter for Change is a result of EFDS and its partners’ rising concern over the low participation rates and the increased gap between disabled people's and non-disabled people’s activity. EFDS believes that everyone, especially those within Government, sport, fitness, health, third sector and media, as well as those in wider communications, have the power to change minds and increase the number of active disabled people.
Barry Horne, EFDS’s Chief Executive, said:
"Through research, we can see
the obvious trends in barriers, behaviours and attitudes in sport and physical
activity for disabled people. To improve participation, organisations need to
firstly, address their own strategies and delivery methods, and then commit to
make the changes. Showing commitment to our Charter will help to raise
awareness of disabled people’s right to be active, with the long term goal to
see many more active disabled people.”
Among those concerned about their own sport’s drop in disabled people taking part is the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA). The number of disabled swimming participants taking part once a week dropped by 37,000 in the past 12 months. This is a particular concern as disabled people have consistently recorded swimming as their top sport choice.
Determined that their sport will increase the number of disabled people swimming, ASA will be the first National Governing Body of sport to sign up to the Charter for Change. Their Chief Executive, Adam Paker, who will speak at the launch, said:
"Swimming is an inclusive sport with a great deal to offer disabled people of all swimming abilities as both a recreational activity and a way of enhancing health and wellbeing. It also provides an opportunity for people to compete at all levels, including on the international stage.
"Despite recent participation figures, swimming remains the most popular sport for disabled people. We are committed to working with our partners to identify and overcome any barriers to engagement to ensure that every person has the opportunity to take part in swimming and make it a habit for life.”
One in five of our nation’s population is a disabled person. As a large proportion of all communities, EFDS believes that disabled people should have every opportunity to be as active as non-disabled people. Physical activity can make a fundamental difference to disabled people’s quality of life, increase independence and benefit our economy and yet disabled people's activity levels remain low.
The Charter sets out what disabled people say they need to make this possible and outlines three asks:
1. Everyone involved in providing sport
or physical activity will support disabled people to participate.
2. Disabled people will have the same
opportunity as non-disabled people to be active throughout their lives.
3. All communications about sport and
physical activity will promote positive public attitudes towards disabled
people’s participation.
For more information on the
Charter and how you can commit your support, visit www.efds.co.uk/charter
Follow the hashtag
#EFDSCharter on the night.
-ends-
Charter for Change event:
EFDS’s Charter for Change
will be unveiled on Tuesday 24 February 2015 at 5pm. The launch takes
place at the Houses of Parliament. The session is hosted by Gerry Sutcliffe MP
(Chair of the Disability Sports All Party Parliamentary Group) and Baroness
Tanni Grey-Thompson.
Interviews are available with
Barry Horne, EFDS Chief Executive and Charles Reed, EFDS Chair, on Tuesday 24
February, subject to availability. Other contributors may be available upon
request.
For further
information, please contact:
Sarah Marl, Marketing and
Communications Manager. Email smarl@efds.co.uk. Mobile: 07764 291671
For more information on
EFDS please visit our website: www.efds.co.uk
Find us on Twitter @Eng_Dis_Sport, Facebook and LinkedIn
Notes to Editors:
English Federation of
Disability Sport
The English Federation of
Disability Sport has a vision that disabled people are active for life.
EFDS is the national body for disabled people in sport throughout England. Key
areas of expertise include:
· Providing advice, guidance and information on sport
for disabled people.
· Working with partners to engage more disabled people
in sport and physical activity. Partners include National Governing Bodies of
sport, National Disability Sports Organisations, education networks, as well as
local county sports partnerships, local authorities, disability charities and
other third sector organisations.
· Developing and rolling-out national programmes
to improve access to sport and physical activity by disabled people,
such as Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All Inclusive PE and Community Training
· Providing a comprehensive calendar of participation
opportunities through Disability Sport Events. These are delivered to
increase the number of disabled people participating at all levels and support
the identification and development of talented performers.
· Managing the Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) with a
national coverage of 400 IFI Mark accredited gym facilities. The IFI Mark is
fundamental in addressing inequality in physical activity; to reach inactive
populations, raise awareness of the benefits of exercise and create
demand.
· Influencing and supporting delivery partners to
be more inclusive and to provide a greater range and quality of sporting
opportunities for disabled people.
· Providing a range of inclusive and high quality
training opportunities to increase the number of disabled people involved in
sport and physical activity.
· Actively raising the profile of all disabled sports
women and men, as well as increasing the opportunities available for disabled
people to participate at all levels.
· Fundraising to provide more opportunities through EFDS
and attracting additional funds to sport for disabled people.
· EFDS receives funding from Sport England as its
national partner for disabled people in sport.
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