Nearly 200 young people have benefited from MK Inclusive Tennis opportunities. Using funding from the Sportivate programme local coach Nigel Willard is making tennis accessible to more people across the area. A variety of participants aged 11-25 with a range of disabilities including players who are visually impaired, deaf, wheelchair users or have learning disabilities have become involved in the sport.
Nigel Willard commented,
“MK Inclusive Tennis are delighted to be part of the Sportivate Programme as through this we have provided so many children throughout Milton Keynes with the opportunity to play tennis in a fun, safe and friendly environment. Many of our participants have continued their tennis journey with us once the initial Sportivate funded sessions have ceased which is a testament to our dedicated coaches who ensure both progress and enjoyment in the sport.
Key to the success of the programme has been listening to the needs to participants, purchasing specialist equipment for the beginner disability sessions, coaches understanding the needs of different personalities and continually engaging and reassuring participates throughout the sessions.
One of the visual impaired players recently reached the final stages in a couple of national tournaments which has been a great inspiration for our disability section.”
Leap’s Director Mark Ormerod said:
“We are thrilled by the success of this year’s schemes. Sportivate projects offer free and subsidised coaching in a variety of activities to offer young people a taster of just how fun, enjoyable and social being active can be. Importantly, it also creates awareness of how imperative regular physical activity is to their future health and wellbeing.”
Jacqueline Galvin, Sportivate Lead at Leap, said:
“Sportivate has proven to have a very positive impact on changing behaviours. 83% of those surveyed at three months were still sustaining their activity and this demonstrates these projects support young people to transition into regular community activity.
“Helping these young people maintain healthy lifestyles will in time reduce their healthcare costs to the NHS. Increasing physical activity levels have shown to reduce the risk of early death by 20-35% from a range of chronic diseases.”
End
Editor Notes
Sportivate
- Sportivate is a £56 million Lottery funded programme that gives more young people the chance to discover a sport that they love
- The programme gives 11-25 year-olds who are not particularly sporty access to six-to-eight weeks' of free or subsidised coaching in a range of sports. There’s a wide range of activities on offer including judo, golf, tennis, wakeboarding, athletics, and parkour/free running.
- During the six-to-eight weeks those taking part can work towards an event or personal challenge and when the free or low-cost coaching has finished they will be supported to continue playing sport. =
- Sportivate launched in June 2011 as a four-year programme aimed at 14-25 year-olds but, due to its success, additional funding of £10m per year has been invested allowing the programme to run until March 2017
- Sportivate is delivered through the 45 County Sports Partnerships across England that collectively make up the CSP Network
- About the CSP Network
The CSP Network is a nationwide network of 45 County Sports Partnerships employing circa 670 staff with a total turnover of £57 million. Our mission is ‘To improve lives by growing grassroots sport and physical activity’. By 2020, our headline goals are:
- To get 500,000 more adults participating regularly in sport.
- To reduce the number of adults that are inactive by 250,000.
- To get 1 million young people more active.
- We do this via:
- National Reach - Local Impact: Getting the nation active by delivering or commissioning high impact customer-led solutions.
- Clubs, Coaches & Volunteers: Developing a high quality, diverse workforce and supporting them to deliver inspiring activities that are accessible to all.
- Local Leadership: Co-ordinating the effective delivery of local sport and physical activity by brokering relationships and influencing stakeholders.
- Insight and Influence: Understanding the needs of the local area to influence and guide decisions to maximise investment into sport and physical activity.
- Awareness and Advocacy: Raising the profile of sport and physical activity through innovative local and national promotional campaigns.
