Sense, the national charity that supports people who are deafblind, have sensory impairments or complex communication needs, to enjoy more independent lives and London Sport have agreed a partnership to inspire greater levels of activity, create more inclusive opportunities, develop a more well-trained workforce, and measure the impact of increased activity on deafblind Londoners’ lives. Coming just weeks after the launch of An Active Inclusive Capital – the strategic plan of action supporting disabled people’s involvement with physical activity and sport in London – the partnership forms part of Sense’s national Sporting Sense project.
Across London, 64.5% of people with limiting illness or impairment say that they want to do more activity than they currently do. Supporting people with complex communication needs to have more and better opportunities to be involved in physical activity and sport is a critical component in addressing the inequalities and barriers that many Londoners face on a daily basis.
Announcing the partnership, Alissa Ayling, Sense National Sport Manager, said:
“Sense is thrilled to be working with London Sport in order to reach out to more people with complex communication needs across the capital. We are excited by the launch of An Active Inclusive Capital, which complements our mission – to make sure no one with complex communication needs is isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential. Partnerships such as this provide a great opportunity for collaboration across the sector, and we look forward to working together to increase the number of accessible sporting opportunities within London.”
Alex Gibbons, London Sport Disability Programme Manager, said:
“We are delighted to be working with Sense to enable more Londoners with complex communication needs to be more physically active as part of the Sporting Sense project. This collaboration is a perfect example of how the strategic priorities of An Active Inclusive Capital are already shaping innovative and exciting ways or reaching inactive deaf and disabled people, and demonstrates how the disability sector is integral to achieving vital, and ambitious, outcomes for physical activity and sport in the capital.”
The Sporting Sense project is currently scheduled to run until 2018, and includes partnerships with five regional sport bodies across the country.
For more information on Sense, visit www.sense.org.uk
To find out more about An Active Inclusive Capital, see https://londonsport.org/about-us/active-inclusive-capital/
