SPORTING VOICES PROJECT
The Sporting Voices project delivered by the Federation of Disability Sports Organisations (FDSO) for the past 6 years has been a pioneering program designed specifically to empower disabled people, improve confidence and build self esteem.
The FDSO has secured its single largest grant since it inception 15 years ago. The Sporting Voices program which has evolved over the last 6 years is now faced with the exciting challenge of a further 5 years of development and expansion. The Big Lottery Reaching Communities Fund has awarded the FDSO a grant of just under £208,000. Combined with other funding the Sporting Voices project will run with a substantial budget and high expectations in the lead up to 2012.
The program is scheduled to commence in September, expanding to encompass people from all areas of the community, with a focus to be fully inclusive & actively targeting disabled people within ethnic minority communities, disabled women and girls as well as other marginalised sectors of society. The sports committee training course runs over 14 weeks and aims to develop communication skills with a total teaching time of 30 hours, 5 of those are practical. As an integral part of the course students are challenged to organise and run their own sports event involving themselves and other disabled people.
The FDSO has secured its single largest grant since it inception 15 years ago. The Sporting Voices program which has evolved over the last 6 years is now faced with the exciting challenge of a further 5 years of development and expansion. The Big Lottery Reaching Communities Fund has awarded the FDSO a grant of just under £208,000. Combined with other funding the Sporting Voices project will run with a substantial budget and high expectations in the lead up to 2012.
The program is scheduled to commence in September, expanding to encompass people from all areas of the community, with a focus to be fully inclusive & actively targeting disabled people within ethnic minority communities, disabled women and girls as well as other marginalised sectors of society. The sports committee training course runs over 14 weeks and aims to develop communication skills with a total teaching time of 30 hours, 5 of those are practical. As an integral part of the course students are challenged to organise and run their own sports event involving themselves and other disabled people.
The course offers modules in sports participation and planning, the organisation of sport, working on sports committees, principles of enabling, essentials of communication and event management. The National Open College Network accredits the program at entry level through to level 3. The FDSO has forged a close relation ship with the OCN over the last 6 years and we are looking forward to working with them during the next phase of the project.
Sporting Voices covers the entire Yorkshire and Humber region. Over the next 6 months there will be a marketing and recruitment campaign to enrol students on the courses, find venues and asses the potential exit routes in place for the students to progress and continue their involvement once qualified. Courses will be scheduled to commence early in the New Year. If you are interested and feel your voice is not heard in the community or sport, if know of a group that may be suitable or even if you are already on a committee and would like to get an accredited certificate for your CV / portfolio, do not hesitate, contact Tony Stones at the FDSO office on: Email: tstones@fdso.co.uk Tel: 01924 279 305
Zeb Penman receiving his certificate from the Mayor of Bradford following a 10-Pin bowling tournament
Students from Leeds Society for Deaf and Blind receiving their OCN certificates at a televised presentation in February 2006
