Celebrating the impact of Include to Improve
On 30 September, Activity Alliance and Sport for Confidence brought together people and organisations involved in Include to Improve to celebrate the programme’s impact and look ahead to its legacy.
Held in Birmingham, the event brought together members of the Lived Experience Network (LEN) and Strategic Partner Network (SPN). It was an opportunity to reflect on what the programme has achieved, share learning and experiences, and consider how its work can continue to support more inclusive practice across the sport and physical activity sector.
Attendees explored interactive impact stories from people and organisations involved in Include to Improve, heard from organisations that have taken part in the programme’s support offers, and took part in panel discussions featuring members of both the LEN and SPN.
The event highlighted the value of bringing different perspectives together and ensuring lived experience is part of how decisions are made, resources are developed and inclusive opportunities are created.
Since its creation, Include to Improve has supported organisations across the sport and physical activity sector to strengthen their approach to inclusion.
The programme has brought together people with lived experience and strategic partners through the LEN and SPN, helping to create opportunities for shared learning, challenge and collaboration. These experiences demonstrate how inclusive practice can move from ambition to action when organisations have the right support, insight and opportunities to learn from others.
As well as celebrating progress, the event provided an opportunity to consider what needs to happen next. Discussions explored how the learning from Include to Improve can continue to influence the sector and support longer-term change.
A key part of this is continuing to value lived experience and ensuring disabled people have meaningful opportunities to shape the decisions, resources and services that affect them.
The event was a reminder that creating a more inclusive sport and physical activity sector is an ongoing process. By sharing learning, building stronger connections and continuing to listen to lived experience, organisations can help make inclusion part of everyday practice.
Activity Alliance and Sport for Confidence will continue to share learning from the programme and explore how its legacy can contribute to a more inclusive future for sport and physical activity.
