The 2005 Festival at Millfield School on 8th July enabled athletes from special schools in
Somerset, BANES, North Somerset and Wiltshire to participate in a wide variety of sports at a level appropriate to their needs, whatever their level of disability or sporting prowess – and how they enjoyed it all!

The day began with a mass warm up and ended with the presentation of medals to all who took part. In between there were several well tried options - Athletics, Basketball, Boccia, New Age Kurling, Orienteering, Parachute Games, Polybat, Table Cricket, Table Hockey and Zone Hockey – plus new activities like Tri Golf and a variety of Court Games, including Relay Races, Obstacle Races and Balance Beams.

Great credit is due to the team of volunteers, many of whom have completed SportsAbility training, who did so much to allow the staff, care helpers from the schools and the SASP coaches to operate more effectively. They included 30 students from Haygrove School, Bridgwater, who supported the Penrose School pupils they have worked with as part of their PE programme and also found time to devise and organise the Court Games section. Students from Yeovil College who have helped with the college’s Multi-Skills Club also supported the Festival, as did groups from King Alfred’s School and the Step into Sport programme. And 5 students from Priory School – a school for pupils whose behaviour is seen as challenging – gave valuable service as officials.

Date for the Diary - Somerset Special Schools Festival 2006
Friday July 7th 2006

Sports & Activities to include: New Age Kurling, Table Cricket, Table Hockey, Polybat, Boccia, Parachute Games, Tri Golf, Outdoor Multi Sports, Orienteering, Hockey, Dance, Basketball and athletics.

Contact Heather Mantle to more information: hmantle@somerset.gov.uk

Recent research has identified that there is a lack of disability awareness among fitness staff and a lack of provision in fitness centres, also a lack of knowledge amongst disabled people of the benefits of exercise.

A scheme has been put in place to address this problem…

What is the Inclusive Fitness Initiative?

It’s aim is to ensure that disabled people can access inclusive equipment in a targeted number of local authority facilities, thereby significantly increasing opportunities for sports specific conditioning and training and improving general levels of health and fitness.

The key elements of the project are to ensure that the gyms are equipped with pieces of accredited inclusive fitness equipment that will enable the majority of disabled people to achieve a full work out with the optimum of independence. To ensure fitness staff have training that includes disability awareness and communication. Improved marketing to ensure disabled people have awareness of the project and what it offers.
Finally to promote pathways and opportunities for disabled people to access inclusive sporting and leisure opportunities within their local authority.

IFI sites in Somerset are (Textphone users add prefix 18001):

Yeovil Sports College Centre, Yeovil: 01935 423921
Sedgemoor Splash, Bridgwater: 01278 435636
Shepton Mallet Sports Centre, Shepton Mallet: 01749 346644
Castle Sports Centre, Taunton: 01823 322934il.

Should you require any further information please contact the project activator –
Jenny Slade: e-mail – jen_slade@hotmail.co.uk

SASP have compiled a Disability Directory of Clubs and Groups in Somerset.

Click here to download a copy