At a recent event hosted at Chiswick School, Sainsbury’s, the first ever Paralympic Games only sponsor revealed its legacy plans.
The supermarket, a Paralympic Games sponsor, has developed the four-year programme, Active Kids For All, in association with the British Paralympic Association (BPA) and other related bodies.
The Sainsbury’s Active Kids For All scheme was launched by Justin King, Sainsbury’s CEO and is an inclusive pioneering PE training programme for teachers. It aims to ensure involvement of disabled children in PE and sport within mainstream schools by training PE teachers all over the UK. It is estimated that 80 per cent of all disabled children currently attend mainstream schools.
Justin King, Sainsbury’s CEO, said: “We are aware that 80% per cent of all disabled children currently attend mainstream schools and we are aware that many may not be fully included in physical education classes.”
In attendance at the event were Chris Holmes MBE, quadruple Paralympic Gold Medalist Ellie Simmonds MBE, London 2012 Director of Paralympics, Barry Horne, Director of Disability Sport Northern Ireland, John Steele, Chief Executive of English Federation of Disability Sport, Kevin O’Neill, Tim Hollingsworth and the Chief Executive of the British Paralympic Association.
The guests attended a school assembly where Ellie made a guest appearance talking about her own experiences at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and answered pupils’ questions.
Guests then joined pupils for an inclusive PE class, which showcased a number of the activities that will be repeated throughout schools under the Sainsbury’s Active Kids For All programme.
Justin King said that the aim of the programme is to help teachers within schools in developing their confidence and skills to teach and include disabled children in physical education and school sport, driving more healthier and active lifestyles amongst pupils across the UK.
Mr King further added: “”Whilst teaching and support staff undoubtedly have the skills, knowledge and competencies to deliver sport to disabled children and young people, not all have the confidence to fully include disabled children within their PE lessons.
“That is why we have worked with the Home Nations Disability Sport Organisations to develop Active Kids For All; it is a training package which is intended to support teachers and support staff working within the school environment to have confidence in the knowledge and skills they already have, and to add to that whilst developing their confidence to deliver to ALL children and young people within their classes.”
The programme has been created in partnership and will be carried out by the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS, Disability Sport Wales (DSW), Disability Sports Northern Ireland (DSNI), and the Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) together with the Youth Sport Trust (YST) and supported by the British Paralympic Association (BPA).
Sainsbury’s commercial properties are pledging £1 million to fund the teacher training courses which will support over 500,000 disabled and children with special educational needs to be included in school PE classes and lead a healthier lifestyle.
As well as encouraging the next generation, Sainsbury’s also announced that as part of its continual London 2012 Paralympic Games Legacy plans; it will be extending its business with the British Paralympic Association through the Sochi Winter Paralympic Games in 2014 and all the way to Rio in 2016.
Together these investments, along with their long-term Sainsbury’s Active Kids Scheme and partnership with the Sainsbury’s School Games, further enhance the company’s significant and sustained commitment to school and elite sports in the UK.
