One year on from the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Disability Sports Coach is to mark the occasion with a week-long programme of activities designed to bring participants together to celebrate the resilience of their community since lockdown measures were first introduced.
Disability Sports Coach is the leading disability sport charity in London, with the mission of enabling every disabled person to enjoy the transformative benefits of sport. Prior to lockdown, only 17% of disabled people played sport once a week – half as many as non-disabled people – and the charity is working hard to change this.
However, the pandemic has had a significant impact on this. Recent research from Activity Alliance found that twice as many disabled people felt that Covid-19 greatly reduced their ability to do sport or physical activity compared to non-disabled people.
To inspire disabled members to keep being active before restrictions begin to ease, the charity’s 'One Year On' programme will feature a range of fun, inclusive activities, ranging from circus skills to boxing and even a dance party.
There will also be creative sessions, such as a bake-a-long, a best-of-year quiz and a wellbeing-focused masterclass on 'The Power of Me'. Special guests from the world of Paralympic sport are also expected to make appearances throughout the week.
The charity’s CEO Peter Ackred said: “Over the past year, our adapted activities have been hugely popular, reaching 4,000 disabled participants.
“With in-person activity being gradually introduced over the coming months, and the Paralympics going ahead this August, this is the perfect time for the sports sector to re-invigorate and support the disabled community to enjoy the physical and mental benefits of being active.”
The One Year On programme will run from Tuesday 12th April to Saturday 17th, and will be held on Zoom. Attendance is completely free and individuals from across the disabled community are invited to join.
