Disability

The Active Communities Team work in partnership with local organisations like the Disability Sports Forum, to provide both social and competitive opportunities for local people with disabilities to participate in sport and recreational activities.

Disability Taster Day

Back in March a disability taster day was held to encourage people of any age with a disability to participate in a wide range of sports and leisure activities to encourage the promotion of healthier lifestyles. Over 160 individuals attended the day at Grimsby Leisure Centre and participated in trampolining, cycling, yoga, street dance, polybat, table tennis, chair based exercise and ice skating. The idea was to provide tasters in these activities with the vision of providing sustainable opportunities. A working group is now established and is working towards providing regular activity. Chair based exercise classes are now running at Nunsthorpe Community Centre, adapted walks are currently being organised and weekly ice skating sessions have been organised on a Wednesday at Grimsby Leisure Centre from 10.30am-11.30am. For further details on any of these activities and future activities organised please contact Helen Derby, Sports Development Officer (Disability) on 01472 323346.

North East Lincolnshire Disability Sports Forum

The Disability Sports Forum provides sport and recreational activities for any person with a disability. The Forum offers members the opportunity to participate and compete in a wide variety of activities. Current activities include:

• Table Tennis, Boccia, New Age Kurling & Polybat. Every Tuesday  5.00pm - 7.00pm (October to April) and 6.00pm - 8.00pm (May to September) at Clee Sports Hall, Ladysmith Road, Grimsby.
• Ice Skating every Thursday 5.00pm - 6.00pm at Grimsby Leisure Centre.
• Swimming every Thursday 6.00pm - 7.00pm at Grimsby Leisure Centre.
• Keep Fit every Tuesday 11.00am - 12.00pm at Bargate Fitness Suite, Grimsby College.
• HolidayActivities -  every school holiday a variety of activities are provided for members including archery, horse riding, water skiing & sailing.

The Forum also provides, or is involved in, annual activities such as 'It's a Knockout' and seasonal fund raising events to encourage membership and to promote the work of the Forum. As well as the wide range of activities organised by the Forum, they also provide the opportunity for their athletes to participate in local, regional and national sports competitions to encourage their development and provide members with further opportunities for participation. The Forum has established good links with regional disability organisations and regularly meets for friendly competition.

In 2002 the Forum was successful in securing external funding from the Children's Fund for a part time Young Person's Disability Sports Officer. Sarah Hasselby was appointed by the Forum and has been able to develop the organisation's services and opportunities to engage more individuals. One particular area the Forum has developed since securing the funding has been the provision of PE opportunities for disabled pupils. The Forum is currently providing specialist coaching for disabled and mainstream pupils in various schools across North East Lincolnshire. Through this work they are supporting not only the schools in their delivery of PE to disabled pupils but are also assisting the young people in achieving a healthy lifestyle.

If you are interested in any of the activities the Forum provides or would like further information about membership to the Forum please contact Colin Woodford on 01472 505230 or at colin.woodford@ntlworld.com

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