Pupils from primary and secondary schools across the county have been competing in a range of sports during the Essex Special Summer School Games. The Games are organised by the Multi-Schools Council in collaboration with Active Essex, the County Sports Partnership, to provide an inclusive event designed for students with special needs or disabilities.
This year, the games were hosted at Basildon Sporting Village and featured the largest variety of sport and activities since the games were launched three years ago.
Over 250 children took part from 16 schools across Essex with students of all ages invited to participate in a number of sports and activities including athletics, new age Kurling, wheelchair basketball and handball. The event was also attended by several Essex All Together Ambassadors.
Charlie, Colchester-based All Together Ambassador said; “These games were created to give people the opportunity to show themselves as well as others of what they are capable of when given the chance.”
Each activity was led by expert coaches and supported by young leaders from Mistley Norman School, Rolph Primary School and James Hornsby School; who took part in a training activity day back in May to build their team-leading skills and prepare for the games.
Azeem Akhtar, Chair of Active Essex said; “This event has gone from strength to strength and it has been very exciting to see young people with special educational needs and disabilities across the county having the opportunity to participate in such a wide variety of sports, make new friends and have some fun.”
Further to the sporting activity, aspiring media students from Market Field School filmed activities on the day and interviewed visitors and participants for a short film to promote the event and key activities of the Multi-Schools Council.
“Cllr Ray Gooding, Essex County Council's Cabinet Member with responsibility for Sport and Physical Activity said; “We are thrilled to have hosted another fantastically fun Special School Games enabling children to compete and enjoy a range of sporting activities and hopefully inspire a future generation of Paralympians in Essex.”
To find out more about the Essex Special Summer School Games visit www.activeessex.org
or www.multischoolscouncil.org.uk.
