Together We Will reaches Birmingham

2 Sep 2016 02:50 PM

A nationwide initiative by national disability sports organisations is aiming to encourage and support disabled people to become more active

SamOpen in a new window has always been sporty and loved to dance but found opportunities limited at local dance schools because of her disability.

Sam has Cerebral Palsy but through motivation, desire, physical training and InstructAbilityOpen in a new window – a scheme run by the charity Aspire which trains disabled people to be gym instructors – she is now a successful Clubbercise trainer and their disability specialist.

How about Adam. Adam, who has a learning disability, realised that not being active had a negative impact on his emotions.

After getting involved with his local Mencap group in 2013, Adam is now one of 500 peopleOpen in a new window taking part in Mencap Sport’s national Round the World Challenge.

Sam and Adam’s stories are just two of many tales English Federation of Disability Sports (EFDS) is telling through the Together We WillOpen in a new window campaign.

The nationwide initiative shares first-hand experiences from people with different impairments or health conditions about why being active is important to them.

It aims to encourage and support disabled people, along with their friends and families, to become more active and to enjoy the mental, physical and social benefits of getting involved in sport and activity.

Campaign support

The campaign is supported by actor, Will Mellor, whose sister had Marfan’s Syndrome. Mellor was in Birmingham recently visiting Villa Rockets Powerchair Football ClubOpen in a new window.

Around 200,000 people have an impairment or long-term health condition in England’s second largest city, with only 13.5% of disabled people reportedly taking part in sport or physical activity for the recommended 30 minutes per week.

We need to put people and what they want and need at the very heart of everything we do

Lisa O'Keefe, director of insight, Sport England

As we increase our focus on groups that are typically less active in line with our new strategy, eight national disability sports organisationsOpen in a new window (NDSOs) are working with EFDS to deliver the campaign together with our support.

“We know that disabled people are half as likely to be active as non-disabled people. That’s why campaigns, like Together We Will, are so important,” said our director of insight, Lisa O’Keefe.

“We need to put people and what they want and need at the very heart of everything we do. That includes supporting people to get active in places where they want to take part, in activities they want do and with people they want to be active with.”