Craigavon Inclusive Leisure Project
Craigavon Borough Council
Christine Wright
Community Sport Active Inclusion Officer
christine.wright@craigavon.gov.uk
Statutory Requirements
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Equality Scheme
Disability Action Plan
Fair employment monitoring
Annual reporting
But much more …
Craigavon Borough – 2011 Census
• Population of 93,023
• 22% aged under 16 and 13.5% aged over 65
but aging population slowly increasing
• 49% male and 51% female
• 2% from ethnic minority background
• 20.67% with a long term health
problem/disability
Our main challenges
• Providing services for people with
disabilities/long term health problems
• An increasingly aging population
• Slowly increasing ethnic minority population
Front line training
• Ongoing Equal Opportunities Awareness training
mandatory for all councillors and staff
2014- 15 focus
• Dementia awareness training with Alzheimer’s Society
(part of their Dementia Friendly Communities initiative)
• Visual impairment awareness with RNIB
• Autism awareness training with Autism NI
• LGBT awareness training
Diversity Champion Initiative
• One Diversity Champion at elected member
level and two at officer level
• Raising the profile of diversity within the
organisation
• Sharing good practice across the Diversity
Champion network
• Point of contact for staff and public
• Received Employers for Disability NI member
accreditation in 2012
• Formally adopted the Equality & Diversity
Framework in 2013
• LNDC – William Keown Trust Access Award
Promoting equality in Leisure
• Improved access:
– Fishing Stands throughout Borough
– Bird Hides at LNDC
– 3D Archery Course at LNDC
– Electric Scooters
• Active Communities Programme
– 8 Coaches working with 12,362 participants, including 1,854
(15%) people with a disability
• Concession Card
– For those in receipt of DLA to access Leisure Facilities at a
reduced rate
• Shine Disability Summer Scheme
- 35 children for 2 weeks of the summer, supported by
Southern Health and Social Care Trust
Access Improvements in
Community Development
• Changing Places Toilet installed
at Brownlow Community Hub
• Killicomaine and Brownstown
• Sensory Garden completed
recently at North Lurgan
Community Centre
(DSD Neighbourhood Renewal Fund)
Working in Partnership...
Fit 4 U programmes -
"With limited resources within our organisations, positive
impacts are still being made within our local communities
due to close partnership working. Together we support
each other in the planning and delivery process, to reach
the goal of making sport and activity more inclusive to all."
Mairead Casey, Fit 4 U Co-ordinator, Southern Health and
Social Care Trust
Working in Partnership...
Get Active Day -
“The organisations involved have provided a high quality
opportunity for people with disabilities to get involved in
fun physical activities and working together makes this
possible.”
Cathy McAdam, Community Access Officer, Southern
Health and Social Care Trust
Craigavon Inclusive Leisure Project
• Partnership between Council and Disability Sport NI
• Sport NI Building Sport Grant – upgrade of Fitness
Suite including equipment, signage, staff training
• Employment of Inclusive Leisure Officer
– 10 week gym induction
programme
– Staff and club coach training
programme
– Wheelchair Basketball Club
– DCD Wildcats
Other work areas
• Developing a policy framework for work
placements and volunteering
• Working towards achieving the Arts &
Disability Equality Charter Award at Artspace
and Millennium Arts Centre
• Communications e.g. improving accessibility
to website, promoting availability in
alternative formats, use of Plain English
Looking ahead - ABC
• Development of new Equality Scheme and
Disability Action Plan for new Council
• Working with Armagh and Banbridge councils
on harmonisation of policies and services
• Harmonisation of staff training
• Amalgamation and updating of consultation
databases
Craigavon
Inclusive Leisure
Project
Colleen Connolly
Inclusive Sports & Leisure Officer
11th November 2014
www.dsni.co.uk
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BACKGROUND
• At time of development 5-10% of people with disabilities regularly took part in
sport & physical activity.
• Increasing demand in lead up to London 2012
• CILP - Partnership between Disability Sport NI & Craigavon
Borough Council
• 2 Distinct Elements – 1) Establishment of fully inclusive fitness suite at
Craigavon Leisure Centre
2) Appointment of Inclusive Sports & Leisure Officer
(Funded by Sport NI)
www.dsni.co.uk
Inclusive Fitness
Suite
100% increase in
memberships
Disability Sports &
Leisure
Programmes
Information and
Advice
CILP
OBJECTIVES
Training
522 participants Yr1
Inclusive Clubs
www.dsni.co.uk
Examples of Successful
Programmes
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Wildcats – DCD
Monday Club
Craigavon Boccia Club
Portadown Panthers
Disability Gym
Case Study
"Without the regular activity and the support and encouragement of Colleen
(and Paddy) I am confident that I would be walking with two sticks by now if
not already in a wheelchair.
My new notebook (the old one was too small to record all the equipment I
now can use) shows the progress we have made since February. I have said,
“we” because I did not do this alone. Colleen’s patience and encouragement
are essential elements and I would encourage anyone who is not as fit as
they could be, to contact the centre and speak to Colleen...
...That one phone call could change your life!"
Thank You
www.dsni.co.uk
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