First BUCS Disability Sport Development Day
On Tuesday 22 October 2013 the first ever BUCS Disability Sport Development Day will be held at the University of Worcester Arena. The English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) is pleased to be involved in the delivery of what is promised to be a useful day for all delegates involved.
The conference will provide an opportunity to share and discuss developments that impact Higher Education sport and good practice from a number of Universities. Delegates will be able to sample and participate in inclusion interventions from National Governing Bodies, network with disability sport landscape partners and learn about coaching and classification in disability sport.
The day has been of particular interest to Sport Sabbatical Officers, Directors of Sport, Activators, Coaches and Development Officers.
Speakers include:
- Matt Gibbs (British Wheelchair Basketball)
- Penny Broomhead (International Classifier, IPC)
- Dr Hayley Fitzgerald (Senior Lecturer, Leeds Metropolitan University)
David Padgen, National Disability Sport Officer for BUCS, said ahead of the conference:
“BUCS is delighted to be staging our first disability sport development day. We hope it provides lots of better practice and helps our members increase the opportunities on offer for disabled students. It is great to be working in partnership with EFDS in the run-up and to have their support on the day.”
To view the itinerary for this brand new BUCS professional development event please click here. Bookings for this event have now closed
Barry Horne, Chief Executive of EFDS, will be part of the Q & A Panel during the day. The panel information is below:
Matthew Bishop, Sports Development Manager, Southampton Solent University
Matthew has been working at Southampton Solent University for 13 years. He leads the Sports Development Team which helps sports clubs to grow their activities and plays an active role to enhance sporting opportunities and provisions within the city. The team, in partnership with other local organisations, is also in charge of developing the current portfolio of university competitions and leagues. The university is unusual in that it engages with students, alumni and also non-students.
The University’s wheelchair rugby team, Team Solent Sharks, is one of only eight clubs in the country. The university provides the club with sports wheelchairs, a training ground and administrative support. The club is coached by GB Paralympion, Ross Morrison, whose training sessions are regularly attended by over a dozen members.
Susan Cook, Disabled Students Committee, NUS
Susan studies community development and leadership at London Metropolitan University and she is the LGBT representative for the NUS disabled students campaign. Susan played 2nd division wheelchair basketball and has played two matches alongside GB in the Olympic Copper Box. Since then, Susan has been training as a wheelchair racer with the Weir Archer Academy in Kingston and has been invited to join the development group for the Disability Target Shooting GB in rifle or pistol.
Matt Gibbs, Education Development Officer, British Wheelchair Basketball
As BWB Education Development Officer Matt focuses on building a framework which enables wheelchair basketball to be delivered in Secondary Education, Further Education and Higher Education. Matt also manages the BWB Regional Centres to provide an Inclusive Zone Basketball (IZB) competition framework for schools and colleges which encompasses a progression from regional to national standard, as well as supporting counties that wish to deliver IZB at Levels 1-3 of the School Games.
In addition, Matt is responsible for new developments within HE and ensuring that a clear playing pathway is in place for participants to progress from all education settings to the community side of the sport.
Glyn Harding, Principal Lecturer in Sports, University of Worcester
Glyn joined the University of Worcester eight years ago having previously worked as a PE teacher, youth worker and the Assistant Academy Director at Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club. Since working for the Institute of Sport and Exercise Science he has undertaken the roles of HND co-ordinator and course leader for Sports Coaching Science and has developed the coaching of disabled athletes, culminating in a unique taught degree pathway in this evolving area of study. As part of his role, Glyn supports and provides guidance to elite athletes in their pursuit of sporting and academic excellence.
Katy Hollands, Sport Development Officer, University of East London
Katy administers and develops all the UEL Sports club activities, the coaching provision and funding applications. She works in partnership with the Student Union and the national governing bodies of sport. Katy also works closely with the local clubs in the community and with the Local Authorities to increase participation and opportunities for all UEL students.
The university is also working with the Universities Disability and Dyslexia department to engage directly with disabled students that have registered to raise the awareness that they can get involved in sport.
In 2011, UEL gained funding from the National Lottery to launch sports wheelchairs in the community. This scheme provides 40 chairs for the 5 Olympic host boroughs and to date has delivered 160 sessions, involving 1600 Londoners. UNITE recently pledged additional funding to continue the scheme allowing the scheme to continue providing opportunities to participate in wheelchairs sports of Badminton, tennis and basketball. UEL are building on these relations and are providing wheelchair basketball sessions for all students- disabled and non-disabled- to attend to help raise its profile.
Barry Horne, Chief Executive, English Federation of Disability Sport
Barry was appointed as Chief Executive of the English Federation of Disability Sport in May 2010. EFDS is the strategic lead organisation promoting and enabling more disabled people to become active in sport across England and has the simple vision: "Disabled People are active for life". Barry’s former role was as a Corporate Director in a large City Council but he has worked in a range of roles including Chief Executive of the East Midlands Regional Assembly and Regional Local Government Association.
His first seven years of employment were in the community and voluntary sector and he is delighted to be heading up a National charity with such a vital role to play. Barry is a passionate advocate for the powerful role which sport and physical activity can play in improving disabled people’s lives and changing attitudes in society.
Darren Waldron, Sport Development Officer, University of Central Lancashire
Darren has worked at University of Central Lancashire for the last two years and ran the first Disability Sport Awareness event which saw over 80 students take part. The day involved creating links with external disability providers and users to demonstrate how small adaptations to your sport can help cater for disabled users.
