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Wheelchair rugby player praises Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training

A wheelchair rugby fanatic searching for a way to expand his knowledge of inclusive sport has praised the Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training programme.

Martin Beddis, from Runcorn, attended a session earlier this month that was organised by the local county sports partnership and delivered by sports coach UK.

Martin told the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS):

“I found out about the Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training on Merseyside Sports’ website. I was available, so I thought I’d attend and see what it was about.

“I play wheelchair sports, so I thought it was something I could benefit from. Plus I thought it could benefit my wheelchair rugby club.”

Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training, part of the Active Kids for All scheme, is a creative, informal and informative workshop. It is designed to improve the skills and confidence of those who support disabled people to be more active.

Martin is one of an increasing number of people, now well over 2,400 individuals nationwide, who have enjoyed the three hour practical workshop, supplemented by online resources.

And he singled out the interactive nature of the training as particularly enjoyable:

“Some workshops involve everyone sitting around a table, talking rather randomly about ways of making sport more inclusive. This was an enjoyable, physical day of activity – we tried stuff out, making all sorts of activities all the more inclusive.

“I enjoyed making contacts with all the people that were there. One of the participants wanted to get disability karate more established, and I found his experiences interesting and informative.”

Described as "fun, interactive and interesting" by past participants, Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training is for those who support disabled people of all ages within the community and have an opportunity to put the training into practice. For example; carers, support workers, parents, volunteers and community groups and organisations. The workshop is not for qualified sports coaches.

Would Martin encourage others to take up the same training opportunity that he did?

“I’d definitely recommend the workshop. If you want to get involved in disability sport or inclusion then people need to learn how to adapt.

“It’s not about learning about wheelchair basketball or boccia, it’s about working with a disabled person to adapt a sport so that person can get involved.”

For further information, please contact EFDS, email AK4A@efds.co.uk or telephone 01509 227751. Find us on Twitter @Eng_Dis_Sport, Facebook and LinkedIn.