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Services work together to provide
Leisure for All
A new scheme will give young people with
disabilities more leisure opportunities than ever before.
“Leisure for All” was officially launched on Friday (April 25th) at
Haigh Hall.
The initiative will give young people with disabilities the opportunity
to take part in hundreds of sports, arts, and cultural activities. A
pilot run of the project has included rugby, multi sports and pottery
sessions.
Until now it has been difficult for young people with disabilities to
take part in mainstream leisure activities, as activity leaders often
don’t have the skills or resources to meet the individual needs of each
child.
Leisure for All will see a full-time paid activities lead, three
part-time staff and a number of volunteers give specialist support to
around 30 young people with disabilities each week to enable them to get
involved in all kinds of activities throughout the year.
An events calendar, including opportunities like dragon boating,
swimming, multi-sports and a walking group has been produced to let
parents and carers know what young people can get involved in through
the scheme. The calendar will now be finalised and distributed following
consultation with parents and carers at the launch on Friday.
Leisure for All is co-ordinated and funded by Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust, Wigan Council Children & Young People’s Services (CYPS) and the
Wigan Children’s Fund.
Kelly Piper, from the CYPS Children With Complex Needs Team, said: “This
is very much a partnership project with services across the borough
providing activities. The scheme will break down barriers between able
bodied young people and children with disabilities.
“There is definitely a need for this. We ran a number of taster sessions
during the Easter school holidays and all the activities were very well
attended. A real effort has been made to get Leisure for All up and
running and I’d like to congratulate everyone involved.”
For further information about Leisure for All contact Kim Bolton,
Leisure for All Activities Lead, on (01942) 481180.
-ends-
Notes to Editors
Photo attached
• Young people like Stuart Smith, 19, (centre) will be able to access a
host of activities through Leisure for All. Stuart is pictured with
(from l to r) Caroline Brittain (volunteer), Kelly Piper (CYPS Children
With Complex Needs Team), Rosanne Patterson (Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust Equality and Diversity Officer), Rodney Hill (Wigan Leisure and
Culture Trust Chief Executive), Kim Bolton (Leisure For All Activities
Lead) and Sue Hughes (CYPS Strategic Manager Children’s Preventative
Services).
Further information
• For further information please contact Kennedy Stewart, Wigan Youth
Information Team Press Officer at Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, on
(01942) 486927.
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