UK Deaf Sport (UKDS) and GreaterSport have announced they will be working in partnership over the next three years. Working to ensure more Deaf people can be active for life; the two organisations will increase participation in sport and physical activity and develop more inclusive opportunities for Deaf people in Greater Manchester for the period of 2017-2020.
Currently, 69.2% of GM residents with a hearing disability do not meet the recommended guidelines for activity. Together this partnership will aim to address this and engage the sport and physical activity sectors as well as the Deaf communities in Greater Manchester. The wider aim is to provide a society in which Deaf people are able to access more opportunities of their choice, at a venue of their choice and at a level of their choice.
Valerie Copenhagen, UK Deaf Sport Head of Participation said:
‘We are extremely pleased to be joining forces with GreaterSport for the next three years and know that this partnership will bring huge benefits to the Greater Manchester sport and physical activity sector and members of the Deaf community. We know that participation rates amongst Deaf people in sport are one of the lowest across all disability groups so this partnership will only seek to encourage, support and grow these rates. There are exciting times ahead and we would like to thank Sport England for their continued support of UK Deaf Sports work around the Disability agenda in sport and physical activity across Greater Manchester.’
Shannon Howarth, GreaterSport Development Officer (Disability) said:
“As we strive to get 2 Million people moving across Greater Manchester we are passionate that this will include the Deaf community. There are nearly 100,000 individuals in Greater Manchester who have experienced some type of hearing loss so it’s important we address the barriers for these people. This partnership will allow us to understand those barriers faced when taking part in physical activity so that we can work with our partners to overcome these across the County.”
