Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training producing 'so many positive testimonials'
With over 2,000 people now having benefited from Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training, part of Active Kids for All, the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) is taking time to look at what has been achieved to date and how we can further improve the programme to keep on delivering the best possible workshop experience.
Working with partners Skyblue Research, so far EFDS has spoken to 30 participants from four different recent Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training sessions from across the Midlands and the North East, to find out a little bit more about their experience.
Feedback was obtained from participants of a closed workshop for students at Newcastle-under-Lyme College in Staffordshire, and other open workshops delivered by North Yorkshire Sport.
The aim of the evaluation is to tell the story of the difference made by Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training Programme to attendees and to disabled people.
One group of participants, from Disability Action Yorkshire, attended their workshop in August 2014.
Asked by Skyblue what attracted them to participate in Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training, panellist Jackie said:
“We liked the idea of getting service users involved more in sport. And we were told that you did not have to be a sporty person to attend, and that it was focused on inclusion.”
There was plenty of positive feedback from the group, from the tutor delivering an entertaining workshop to some of the skills developed, including a knowledge of adaptive equipment, the useful acronym STEPS, high-quality training materials and the fact that the session was mixed in terms of both genders and abilities.
One participant told Skyblue:
“I remembered that sports are fun. What we learned was relatable to work and the group had a good range of abilities and professions. Those attending weren’t just sporty people.”
Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training, is a creative, informal and informative workshop. It is designed to improve the skills and confidence of those who support disabled people to introduce physical activity and sport.
Described as “fun, interactive and interesting” by past participants, Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training has dozens of further sessions arranged for 2015.
For the participants from Disability Action Yorkshire, Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training proved a very worthwhile undertaking:
“One of the reasons why the training was set up, was to find out about disability sport opportunities around and to link up people better.”
“We are very aware that the world of disability sport is growing, growing and growing and it is nice to feel a part of it.”
Paul Rhodes from Skyblue told EFDS:
“Skyblue Research are particularly interested in capturing how practice is changing; so as a result of the workshop participants should come away with one or more techniques that they can start using straightaway. That’s the change we want to capture and share.
“Skyblue’s evaluation builds on feedback provided by participants on the day and soon after attending. The views of disabled people are key to our approach.
“Over the course of the evaluation we will be leading around 15 sessions with participants around the country, and working with CSPs to share good practice and learning as it occurs.
“Workshop participants will be invited back together to share notes, and continue the learning and development process that the workshop began.”
Kat Southwell, Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All manager at EFDS, said:
“Working with Skyblue to evaluate the programme throughout its lifespan allows us to continually respond to participants’ feedback and share the impact of our work to influence others, both of which supports more disabled people to be more active.
"It is encouraging to read so many positive testimonials through this process”
You can view nationwide upcoming Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training events on the EFDS website, as well as finding out more about Active Kids for All.
For further information, please contact EFDS, email AK4A@efds.co.uk or telephone 01509 227751. Find us on Twitter @Eng_Dis_Sport, Facebook and LinkedIn.
