Somerset celebrates first Disability Sports Awards in 2016
Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP) Disability Sports Awards took place on the 19 October, at Taunton Vale Sports Centre. The event recognised and rewarded the sporting achievements of local participants, partners, clubs, coaches and volunteers within disability sport across the County. Over 60 people attended the awards including local community clubs, coaches and volunteers, special schools, colleges, National Governing Bodies, Sport England, English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) and Somerset Skills and Learning.
SASP works with many providers and organisations across the County to provide opportunities for inclusive sport. This year saw a new partnership with Future4, a provider of day centre provision for adults with a learning disability, to develop sporting opportunities for their clients. As a result of this successful partnership, activities are now up and running in 13 day centres across Somerset. We wanted to showcase and reward some of the fantastic work that goes on within disability sport in Somerset.
Penny Gibbons, Learning Support Coordinator from Somerset Skills & Learning said:
‘It’s heartening to see so many activities around the County that are inclusive. Thank you for the invitation, I was very pleased to see the obvious pleasure people had in receiving their awards’
The awards were hosted by BBC Somerset’s Ben McGrail. Guest speaker Amanda George (ParalympicsGB Archer) opened the awards talking about her experiences and achievements within sport.
SASP would like to thank everyone for attending such a worthy event and special thanks go to Ben McGrail for hosting. Congratulations to all winners and nominees.
Awards
- School of the Year – Fairmead School
- College of the Year – Lufton College – Winner. Bridgwater College – Runner up
- Recognition of Outstanding Contribution in the Workplace - Aaron Hardwidge & Futures 4 Huntspill
- Facility of the Year – Goldenstones Leisure Centre- winner. Bridgwater College – Runner up
- Volunteer coach of the year – Linda Vowles – winner. Simon Penny – Runner up.
- Club of the year – Yeovil Lynx Wheelchair Basketball Club - winner. Somerset Visually Impared Cricket Club and Somerset Disabled Cricket Club– runners up
- Female Achiever – Emma Povey - winner. Kathryn Porter and Eve Sale – runners up.
- Male Achiever – Jamie Edwards – winner. Paula Malugu and Connor Hyde – runners up.
- Volunteer of the year – Linda Vowles - winner. Simon Penny – runner up
- SASP Outstanding Contribution to Disability Sport – Ivor Griffiths – winner.
- SASP special recognition award – Edgar Herridge, Somerset Visually impaired and Disabled Cricket Clubs
