Organisations across the county are pledging their support to a campaign aimed at increasing participation in disability sport.
Active Essex, the county sports partnership for Greater Essex, launched the All Together programme last year, with the aim of encouraging more people with disabilities to take part in sport and physical activity.
The All Together programme has 35 ambassadors, who help inspire more disabled people to get active, signpost to disability and inclusive sport across the county and help break down some of the barriers which prevent disabled people taking part in sport and physical activity.
Hayley Chapman, Sport and Physical Activity Officer at Active Essex, said:
“We are committed to increasing participation in disability and inclusive sport across the county. By working closely with other organisations within the sector, we can raise awareness of the opportunities, facilities and support out there.”
All Together has now gained the support of 12 organisations working within the disability sector, who have agreed to promote the various opportunities and services for disability sport across their communication channels.
Organisations including; ECL Sensory Service, Southend Mencap and Tendring Community Transport, are working with Active Essex to increase awareness of the services and activities available amongst their members and the wider community.
Faye Gatenby, Head of the ECL Sensory Service, said; “The All Together campaign is shining a light on accessible sporting and physical activity opportunities available within Essex and also developing new opportunities, we are proud to be a supporting organisation.”
Marc McOwens, from Southend Mencap, said “Southend Mencap has been at the forefront of providing greater opportunities for people with learning disabilities to access sporting activities especially with our SMASH sports club having been in operation since January 2000. The introduction of the All Together project is another positive step for our students to not only have even more opportunities to take part in physical and sporting activities but also to access these in more mainstream venues than they have previously been able to”.
Pauline Mann, from Tendring Community Transport, said; “We are proud supporters of the All Together campaign which helps encourage healthier, independent lifestyles for members of the local community who are unable to access conventional forms of transport to access health/leisure activities.”
Last year Active Essex announced their four year strategy to change a million lives to get Essex active with a key priority to improve health and wellbeing for those living with a disability or life-long illness. This accounts for 17.1% of the Greater Essex population.
Azeem Akhtar, Chair, Active Essex, said: “Our All Together Ambassadors are already playing a vital role in increasing the number of the disabled people who are involved in sport and physical activity in Essex.
“With further support from organisations, and additional funding for community projects, we can help spread this message further and build on the success we have had.”
To find out more about the Essex All Together campaign and supporting organisations, visitwww.activeessex.org
ENDS
Supporting organisations include:
- Southend Mencap – Southend
- Mid and North East Essex Mind – Colchester
- Chelmsford Community Transport – Chelmsford
- ECL Sensory Service - Chelmsford
- Multi-schools Council – Colchester
- Action for Children - Basildon
- Tendring Community Transport – Tendring
- CoCoCare - Colchester
- Southend Carers - Southend
- DIAL South Essex – Basildon
- Short Breaks for Disabled Children & Young People in Essex
- Accuro – Takeley
For further press information or for photos from the awards, please contact:
Joe Tye or Jacqueline French, Genesis PR 01473 326436
jacqueline.french@genesispr.co.uk joe.tye@genesispr.co.uk
Active Essex
Notes to Editors
- Active Essex is the Sport and Physical Activity Partnership for Greater Essex. It was formed in 2013 and continues to deliver a lasting legacy to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. See www.activeessex.org.
- To date, through its partnership with Essex County Council and Sport England, Active Essex has encouraged and supported more than 600,000 people to take part in sport and physical activity to improve their health, wellbeing and individual achievement.
- The Olympic legacy has also translated into success for the Basildon Sporting Village and for Hadleigh Park, which hosted the London 2012 Olympic mountain-biking competition.
- Active Essex has developed Hadleigh Park into a popular sports and leisure destination for children and families, as well as a world class cycling venue hosting international events. Hadleigh Park address is Chapel Lane, Hadleigh SS7 2PP.
See www.hadleigh-park.co.uk - The Inspired Athletes scheme is a legacy from the London 2012 Games and Active Essex, Essex County Council and Southend-On-Sea Borough Council are continuing to support talented athletes. In 2016 the scheme has supported 25 local Essex athletes. Six athletes were given extra support as Road to Rio athletes - four of whom competed at the Rio Olympics and Paralympic games.
Joe Tye
Account Executive
Genesis PR
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M: 07932737275
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