Disability Rights UK launches new Get Yourself Active project
A new project to support disabled people to get more involved in physical activity and sport was formally launched on 30 June. Get Yourself Active, launched in partnership by Disability Rights UK and Sport England, will find ways to increase the number of disabled people doing sport and other physical activity.
Awarded £791,171 worth of National Lottery funding from Sport England, the three year pilot programme will see disabled people’s organisations in Cheshire, Leicester and Norfolk working with a range of local organisations, including health and social care professionals and sport and leisure providers, as well as with disabled people directly to create sporting opportunities.
The project will also work at a national level with policy makers and professional bodies and focus on understanding the value and benefits of using personal budgets for those wanting to use their funds for sport and physical activity.
Project co-ordinator Leanne Wightman from Disability Rights UK, which is running the project, said:
“The benefits of sport and other physical activity are well documented. They can help disabled people get fitter of course, but there are lots of other advantages; physical activity can improve confidence and skills and help people feel part of the community they live in. And of course it can help people become more independent.”
Lisa O’Keefe, Sport England’s Director of Insight, added:
“We are committed to improving sports provision and choice for disabled people, and increasing the number who play sport on a regular basis.
"This is an exciting opportunity for Sport England to work with Disability Rights UK and broaden our network with other disability organisations. This innovative partnership in a new sector will promote sport and exercise as a way of meeting people's needs, and ultimately help in getting more disabled people who would like to use a personal budget to play sport more regularly.”
This partnership is part of Sport England’s wider National Lottery-funded ‘Take-up Programme’, working on a number of projects to increase the number of disabled people regularly playing sport.
The pilot scheme will be run through the Cheshire Centre for Independent Living, the Leicester Centre for Independent Living and Norfolk’s Equal Lives; all organisations run by disabled people.
