Special Olympics GB launches Motor Activities Training Programme

Special Olympics Great Britain is proud to have hosted the first of a series of seminars recently to launch the Motor Activities Training Programme (MATP ®) project.

The event, which took place at Bishops Grosseteste University College in Lincolnshire, was set up to inform those working with people with profound intellectual (learning) and multiple impairments, about an exciting and innovative project to develop MATP approved centres throughout the UK.

People with severe, profound and multiple impairments regularly have far less opportunity to engage in sports activity than other impairment groups. People with profound and multiple impairments can be excluded from participation in sport, due to the high level of support required and the very nature of their impairment.

In England alone, there are over 200,000 people (source: Dept of Health 'Valuing People' document) with severe and profound multiple impairments – a vast majority of whom do not have access to any form of sports training or competition.

This project has been made possible for Special Olympics Great Britain through Domino’s Pizza customers donating their ‘spare change’ to charity through Pennies, the electronic charity box. Pennies is the electronic charity box which makes giving to charity easy, quick and affordable. With one touch of a button shoppers can choose to round up their payment to the nearest pound when they pay by card.

Bob Billson, Development Manager at Special Olympics Great Britain, said:

“Special Olympics GB’s Motor Activities Training Programme is specifically designed to engage people with profound impairments in sport related activity by enabling the athletes to develop a set of skills over a period of twelve weeks. These skills are then demonstrated to an audience of family, friends and people from the community, at a Motor Activities Event.  What is so good about MATP is that it isn’t about scoring goals or throwing furthest, it is designed to provide the athletes with an opportunity to develop at their own pace. The event is an opportunity to demonstrate just how far each athlete has progressed with the skills they have chosen to develop. These skills can then be utilised in everyday life activities, such as using a key board, or holding a fork or spoon, which leads to greater independence and growth in self esteem for the athletes. Our aim is to introduce MATP to a wide ranging audience of people from various backgrounds such as physiotherapists, teachers and residential service providers. We will then create a nationwide network of approved centres enhancing the health, wellbeing and quality of life for people with profound impairments. It is thanks to the support of Domino’s Pizza and their customers together with Pennies that we are able to develop and implement such a fantastic and unique project.”

 

Angie Lawrence, CSR & Internal Communications Manager for Domino’s Pizza said:

“Pennies is a fantastic tool for us as it enables us to raise much needed funds for charities like Special Olympics Great Britain.  We are delighted to hear that our customers’ pennies have made such a difference and helped to create the Motor Activities Training Programme.”

Angela Morley, Special Olympics East Midlands Secretary and Chair of Special Olympics Lincolnshire, said at the seminar:

“I would like to express my thanks on the excellent presentation about the Motor Activities Training Programme. The development of MATP was clear and easy to understand. One of the people who attended the seminar told me they can’t wait to start and mentioned that all the parents were over the moon about their children being given the opportunity to participate in sport through MATP.”

For more information about Motor Activities Training Programme ® please contact:

Bob Billson, Special Olympics Great Britain Development Manager at

020 72478891 ext: 214