The Wooden Spoon Wheelchair Sports Club launch Wednesday 26 October

Manx Sport and Recreation in conjunction with the ‘Wooden Spoon’ charity has established a new Wheelchair Sports Club on the Island.

The Wooden Spoon Charity has generously donated funding towards the establishment of The Wooden Spoon Wheelchair Sports Club. This donation helped towards the newly formed club purchasing a total of 12 adult and six junior sport specific wheelchairs. The club will offer inclusive wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball training sessions to all adults and children.

The newly established Wooden Spoon Wheelchair Sports Club will be officially launched on Wednesday 26 October at the National Sports Centre main sports hall from 7pm to 8pm. There will be a demonstration of both wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball.

Weekly training sessions will commence on Wednesday 2nd November from 6-8pm in the NSC main sports hall. These sessions will take place from November 2011 to March 2012.

Several members of the Wooden Spoon Wheelchair Sports Club will be taking part in the Grade 1 wheelchair basketball coaching courses in the near future. Once these individuals have been trained and are fully qualified grade 1 wheelchair basketball coaches, they will then facilitate the club’s weekly sessions. It is hoped to run an additional coaching course for individuals who are interested in becoming a wheelchair rugby coach.

If you would like to become involved in this club either as a player, official, volunteer, coach or mechanic please come along to the Wheelchair Sports Club launch or contact Zoe Carney, Disability Sports Development Officer, tel. 688575 or email Zoe.Carney@gov.im for further information.

Zoe said:

‘This is a fantastic new initiative that will increase the access to sport for all adults and children with disabilities.

‘Not only does wheelchair sport offer a great rehabilitation from injury or illness, it also provides everyone with an opportunity to participate at a level they wish. It can encourage individuals to meet new friends, have fun whilst improving health, confidence and self esteem.’

Wheelchair sports are not solely directed at individuals who habitually use a wheelchair. They also facilitate people who suffer a wide range of disabilities to participate in sport including paraplegics, amputees, and people suffering a range of conditions including spina bifida, brittle bones, cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis. Able bodied players are also eligible to get involved either as coach, participant or wheelchair mechanic. Virtually everyone who can conceivably play wheelchair sport is encouraged to do so.

For more information on this initiative, please contact: Zoe Carney – Disability Sports Development Officer: Zoe.Carney@gov.im. Tel: (01624) 688575.