Supporting Your Inclusive Club

To help you create your inclusive club why not take look at some of these great resources, websites and pieces of research. They may help you to consider how inclusive your club really is and what steps you could consider taking to become more inclusive whilst gaining a better understanding.

Understanding more about disability

So what is disability - for one of the definitions of disability from the Equality Act 2010 visit this Government website. And to understand more about the Equality Act and what it means visit Disability Rights UK.

This scheme is underpinned by the social model of disability. The model is developed by disabled people and tells us that the barriers they face are not always because of their impairment, but instead because of barriers put there by society. Like people's attitudes to difference. To read more about this and watch a video, visit the Scope website or The Mental Health Foundation website.

In broad terms, according to the Activity Alliance (formely English Federation of Sport) there are different impairment groups that have different access requirments. These include; 

• Visual impairment/blindness
• Hearing impairment/deafness
• Mobility/physical impairments
• Cognitive impairments/learning disability
• Mental health conditions
• Long term health conditions 

To learn more about the different types of disability take a read of the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment - types of disability which provides more detail and gives some sporting examples.

The chief medical officer provides these guidelines for how physically active disabled people should aim to be each week - Disabled Adults (PDF Document, 0.35 Mb)

Sport England's strategy (Towards an Active Nation) also provides more information around the importance of engaging disabled people in sport and physical activity and shows that it is a matter to be taken seriously. 

The Facts and Engaging Disabled People in Sport and Physical Activity 

Did you know that disabled people are twice as likely to be physically inactive than non-disabled people? If you would like to learn more facts and statistics about disability the Activity Alliance have a great page.

In 2016 Sport England undertook some research that lead to them releasing four documents around mapping disability. They are all worth a read, but the facts document and guide provide further details on good communication such as messaging and imagery, as well as advice on ensuring a positive first experience. 

You can find more resources from the Activity Alliance, including a range of engagement factsheets and inclusive communication factsheets which provide guidance on; accessible and inclusive communications, effective engagement, gathering and using insight on disabled people, accessible budget, accessible design and much more. There is also 10 factsheets around Inclusive Marketing and Communications.

The Government's website on inclusive communication also provides some further advice including guidance on inclusive language, portraying disability and accessible communication formats plus more.

The Activity Alliance also host a variety of research that makes for good reading. In particular the following documents; 

• Talk to me: Understanding how to increase participation in sport and physical activity amongst disabled people in the UK (October 2014) - This report gives more understanding on how to increase participation in sport and physical activity amongst disabled people in the UK. 
• Talk About Taking Part (Wheelchair Sport and Physical Activity Survey 2016) - This report highlights findings about current participation trends, motivations and barriers to being active. 
• Supporting me to be Active: The role of supporters in influencing disabled people to be active (January 2016) - This report provides information on the level of influence supporters of disabled people have, what supporters need to know about an activity, and how to communicate this information. 
• Delivering activity to disabled people: The workforce perception gap (January 2019) - This report discusses the four-point journey of developing successful inclusive provision. 
• Taking Part with Disabled People: Non-Disabled People's perceptions (May 2019) - This report provides information non-disabled people's understanding and perceptions of disabled people. One of the key recommendations that came out of this research was that the sport and leisure industry should 'embed inclusivity in many more opportunities so disabled and non-disabled people can be active together.'
• Inclusive Activity: Taking a person centered approach (September 2020) - This report provides some great tips on taking a person centred-approach. 

UK Coaching also provide a range of disability resources and advice. See their webiste for great pieces on Effective Communication: Coaching People with a Learning Disability, Disability Awareness and much more. 

If your club would like to look further into how they could make their venue more accessible then this Access for All: Opening Doors guide from the Activity Alliance (Formerly English Federation of Disability Sport) and Sport England is a great first read. 

For Disabled People 

Being physically active has many health and wellbeing benefits, both physically and mentally for everyone. 

The Activity Alliance have provided this Be Active Guidance for people living with an impairment or health condition. It provides advice on things like why you should get more active, how you could get more active and what you should do. 

Disability Rights UK have also published Doing Sport Differently – A guide to exercise and fitness for people living with disability or health conditions

Further support for clubs 

To find more information on delivering inclusive sports sessions visit the Leicestershire County Council Special educational needs and disability play and leisure page where you can find more information on support and resources for play and leisure providers and SEND training for play and leisure providers.

More Ideas

If you would like more information or resources, or another document, article or research piece that you have read and found useful to be added to this page, please contact Emily Rodbourne with the details: emily.rodbourne@nwleicestershire.gov.uk or 01530 454755.