On Tuesday 15th June `Steps to Inclusion` was recognised as the UK`s 500th Inspire project. The prestigious award was presented by Lord Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee and Hugh Robertson, Minister for Sport at the Inspire Network event at the University of Leeds.

Using the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games as inspiration, Steps to Inclusion is an innovative coach education programme that strives to enhance the number of high quality participation opportunities available to people with disabilities across South Yorkshire.

The Inspire programme officially recognises exceptional London 2012 inspired projects. Michelle Dent, project lead for Steps to Inclusion was at the Inspire network event to receive the award. Michelle said; `We feel very proud to be awarded the Inspire mark by Lord Sebastian Coe and Hugh Robertson and privileged to be recognised as the 500th Inspire project. We very much hope that this recognition proves to be a catalyst for driving the programme forward.`

Steps to Inclusion combines workshops and practical sessions with further training opportunities and was developed through dialogue with the South Yorkshire Disability Sport and Physical Activity Steering Group, local clubs and coaches. The project aims to work alongside national initiatives such as Playground to Podium (P2P) requiring local participation exit routes and is the first disability themed project in the region to be recognised by the Inspire programme.

The first wave of the project has provided over 150 training spaces that will help develop coaches` knowledge and confidence to deliver sport to disabled people.

Project Outline

Step 1 in the `Steps to Inclusion` programme is a Club Development Evening. Club representatives are led through an interactive session incorporating an introduction on why sport should be inclusive and preferred terminology, providing examples of effective school to club links. Clubs then progress to write individual club action plans to take back to their clubs for development.

Step 2 is a Coach Development Evening. This is a practical session aimed at club coaches showcasing practical ideas on how to adapt your session to suit a range of abilities, including opportunities to plan your own skills and drills, leaving coaches with a range of inspired inclusive session plans.

Step 3 offers further training opportunities prioritising those clubs signed up to Steps 1 & 2 but open to all who wish to extend their knowledge.

Commenting upon completion of the programme:

`It has been inspirational, it really got us all thinking and has kick started our club to be forward thinking on how we develop inclusion.` - Cricket Club

Since March 2010 (Step 2) the clubs have been successful in establishing several new opportunities including; Barnsley Special Needs Gymnastics Group, Special and Mainstream School Cricket sessions with club pathways across Sheffield and Doncaster and new inclusive Badminton sessions.

The programme will commence once again from September 2010, fresh with its Inspire recognition ready for a new selection of clubs and organisations.

Anyone interested in taking part in the program should contact Michelle Dent, South Yorkshire Disability Development Officer to register their interest.

Email: michelle.dent@sysport.co.uk

Tel: 0114 223 5680

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