Disability Sports Directory

The Department of Community Culture and Leisure recently published a Disability Sports Directory that is available to all adults and children with learning, physical and / or sensory disabilities. It details information on all sporting opportunities and initiatives, social organisations, helpful agencies and support that is available as well as useful contact lists that individuals with disabilities could greatly benefit from.

Hon. Tim Crookall MHK, Minister for Community, Culture and Leisure said:

‘It is important that we encourage everyone in the Island to participate in physical activity. Improving access to sports for adults and children with learning, physical and/or sensory disabilities is a key objective for our Sports Development Unit.’

Zoe Carney, Disability Sports Development Officer said:

‘This directory is a vital resource to ensure that both adults and children with disabilities are aware of all sporting opportunities, initiatives and support that is available on the Island.’

In October 2010, a Disability Partners Forum was formed made up of representatives from the private, public and voluntary disability organisations. The disability partner’s forum meets on a quarterly basis to discuss and share information on the developments, opportunities and benefits of disability sport on the Island. At this forum, it was identified that there was a clear need for a central resource detailing information on all sports provision that is available on the island for both adults and children with disabilities.

Through the work of the Disability Sports Development Officer and through the generous support from Barclays Wealth, over 1,000 disability sport directories have now been published for the second consecutive year. Directories have been distributed to all school children, disability organisations, local businesses and services.

Disability Sport Directories can be found on the Sports Development website: http://www.gov.im/sport/SportsDevelopment/Disabilities/club_directory.xml or at the National Sports Centre.

For further information or an application form please contact Zoe Carney, Disability Sports Development Officer on 688575, or email Zoe.Carney@gov.im