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A special open day to spread Babergh’s vision of sport and leisure for all has been a great success – receiving praise from participants across the country.
More than 70 representatives from local authorities, sports organisations and their partners from across the UK attended the event at Great Cornard Upper School Sports Centre last Thursday (February 1) - to see how Babergh’s award-winning Be Active initiative promotes activity for everyone.
Practical demonstrations included a boxing demonstration by Great Cornard Upper School pupils and Sudbury Boxing Club and an Inclusive Fitness Initiative session provided by Great Cornard Sports Centre.
Children from Hillside Special School in Sudbury competed against children from Belstead and Thomas Wolsey Special Schools in an athletics competition run by Babergh coaches Glen Parker and Jennie Grimwood.
The athletes, who all had physical or learning disabilities, competed in events such as the target throw, shuttle run, chest push and standing long jump. All athletes received certificates, recognising their achievement.
Speakers including Be Active patron Helen Smith of Anglia TV, Rex Thake, Chairman of Babergh District Council and Michael Foley, Headteacher of Great Cornard Upper School, also added their support to the day.
Greg Cooper, who heads up the Be Active project, said: “This is the first open day that Babergh has organised on this scale, and we are delighted how well it has been received.
“The practical demonstrations, such as the athletics competition, have demonstrated how activity can benefit – and be enjoyed by – everyone. Our speakers have been equally inspiring, and other local authorities have already expressed an interest in taking up some of our ideas.
“This is a wonderful platform from which to take Babergh’s Be Active Project forward – and we look forward to introducing more exciting initiatives later this year.”
Events at the open day were modified so all athletes were able to compete - for example wheelchair athletes performed a measured wheelchair push instead of the standing long jump. All children had taken part in two sportshall athletics taster sessions beforehand - thanks to the Copleston and Westbourne School Sports Partnerships and coaches from Orwell Panthers, the Ipswich Disability Athletics club.
Babergh’s Be Active Leisure Inclusion Project began in 2002 as an 18-month pilot scheme and has reached more than 500 vulnerable people since it was made a permanent initiative by Babergh in October 2004. The project aims to support vulnerable social groups – particularly youths at risk of offending and people with disabilities – and was awarded its much coveted ‘Beacon’ status by the Government in March 2006.
For more details on the day, plus a new ‘all-inclusive’ powerlifting club at East Bergholt , visit the new Babergh Be Active website.
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