World Health Day: Sainsbury’s Active Kids For All plays its part
Today is World Health Day, sponsored by the World Health Organisation – it is a day that each year highlights health as an issue of global importance.
The English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) champions disabled people’s fitness and physical activity, with the aim of helping disabled people to be active for life.
The Sainsbury’s Active Kids For All programme is just one way of grasping the spirit of World Health Day - it offers training for schools and community groups to develop inclusive PE and sport for disabled people.
Indeed, it has been something of a bumper few weeks for the programme, with Prime Minister David Cameron announcing a Big Society Award for the Active Kids programme under a month ago.
The PM said at the time:
“I’m pleased to make the Sainsbury’s Active Kids programme a Big Society award winner. This scheme has made an important contribution to the UK’s Olympic legacy, helping millions of young people get involved in sport.”
Sainsbury’s Inclusive PE makes free training and resources available for teachers and school staff across the UK in providing high quality PE provision for all young people.
Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training is designed to improve the skills and confidence of those who support disabled people to be more active.
Last week, students from Stafford underwent Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training – a three-hour practical session complimented by online resources – and afterwards told EFDS what they had enjoyed:
“I have learnt about how to make activities inclusive. How to change activities to suit individual needs and to suit the age of the child. In the future we can put this into practice when working with children.”
“The course was fun, interactive and interesting. It is important for others to take part so they can understand how children participate with sport and what support they may need. When working with children it is important to know how to encourage children to be active and how to get them involved.”
Joe Whitelock, of Stafford College, explained why she had arranged the training:
“We know that research shows that getting active can improve health, confidence and quality of life. I would recommend any organisations who are responsible for training and educating young people to participate in these events so that they can educate and train the young people of the future to live healthier and active lives.”
In order to spread the word about Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training and Inclusive PE, the programme hit the road in March and travelled to the Kidz in the Middle, an exhibition in Coventry.
A record 2,523 visited the Ricoh Arena throughout the day, which allowed the scheme to be discussed by a wide range of interested parties.
Dave, who works for a foster agency, told us he would like to offer the Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training to all of the foster carers he works with.
Meena, a parent from Coventry, then explained how she hoped the free Sainsbury’s Inclusive PE Training would help her daughter’s school to better include her in PE lessons.
And Shelia, a physiotherapist in Warwickshire, said that Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training would provide a welcomed development opportunity for her team, and knowledge of the Inclusive PE Training would support them to show teachers other relevant training opportunities.
Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training sessions will continue to take place throughout the year, and you too can arrange one.
Kat Southwell, Active Kids for All Manager at English Federation of Disability Sport, said of the benefits of the training:
“Sainsbury’s Inclusive PE and Inclusive Community Training allows us to reach more disabled people through physical activity and sport, making active lives possible. At EFDS we are proud, alongside all of our programme partners, to be making a difference within schools and community environments through Active Kids for All.”
Sainsbury’s Inclusive PE Training has been developed in partnership with, and is delivered by, Disability Sport Northern Ireland, Disability Sport Wales, Scottish Disability Sport, the English Federation of Disability Sport, alongside the Youth Sport Trust. It is supported by the British Paralympic Association.
Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training has been established through a £1 million National Lottery grant from Sport England. This initiative is being delivered across England through the English Federation of Disability Sport and sports coach UK.
