Simon Pierce - North Yorkshire Disability Development Officer (DDO)

Hi, I’m Simon Pierce the DDO for North Yorkshire.

Back in May 2008 Sport England funding allowed the FDSO to go through a major structural reorganisation. Four county specific DDO’s with a pan disability remit were employed to lead on the facilitation of county Disability Sport Development Plans. The DDO’s have been accommodated by the respective County Sports Partnerships (CSP) to also enable equity and inclusion advice to be available on all aspects of sport delivery.

The Disability Sport Development Plan was developed and agreed with the CSP and a work programme has been developed to illustrate how the Plan will be achieved. The strategies and initiatives inherent within the Plan are the English Federation of Disability Sport’s National Strategy for Disability Sport 2007 -2012 and Sport England's Playground to Podium initiative.

The 4 main themes of the National Strategy are:

- Player Pathways

- Youth/Club Development

- Workforce Development

- Marketing and Communication

My sub-regional role is to ensure that there are more high quality opportunities to participate, coach and volunteer in disability sport. This can only be achieved through a strong partnership working approach, utilising existing local sport and activity networks and developing new links where possible.

The North Yorkshire Disability Sport Steering Group, which is made up of representatives from school sport partnerships, district authorities and disability sport organisations, was set up to make recommendations to the Delivery Agents of Sport on disability issues. This group has provided guidance, local expertise and support with regards to the development and delivery of the work programme.

The Playground to Podium initiative looks at Performance Pathways for disabled athletes towards 2012. The framework incorporates pathways for disability sport from schools, led by Youth Sport Trust, and the community, led by Sport England. Linking into this are the player and performance pathways from NGB's, providing performance environments and high quality coaching for identified talented participants to enter County, Regional and National squads through the National Competition Framework delivered in conjunction with UK Sport.

The Sport England element of the initiative which involves holding an annual County Assessment day is due to be rolled out in North Yorkshire in October 2009.

If you would like any more information about disability sport in North Yorkshire please follow the link below:

www.northyorkshiresport.co.uk

The North Yorkshire Sport website contains information on all aspects of disability sport including local news, opportunities, clubs and events to name just a few things. Alternatively contact me:

Simon Pierce
Disability Development Officer
North Yorkshire Sport
Harrogate High School
Ainsty Road
Harrogate
HG1 4AP
Tel: 01423 556782
Mobile: 07533586881
Fax: 01423 556730
email: simon.pierce@harrogate.gov.uk
www.northyorkshiresport.co.uk