Sainsbury’s Announce Paralympic Games Legacy
Sainsbury's has today announced it will be working with the Youth Sport Trust on a ground-breaking inclusive PE training programme for teachers.
Sainsbury's Active Kids for All aims to ensure the inclusion of disabled children in PE and sport within mainstream schools by training PE teachers throughout the UK.
The programme has been developed in partnership, and will be managed and delivered by, the British Paralympic Association (BPA), Disability Sports Northern Ireland (DSNI), Disability Sport Wales (DSW), Scottish Disability Sport (SDS), the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) and the Youth Sport Trust (YST).
Justin King said today that the aim of the programme is to support teachers within schools in developing their skills and confidence, and to enable them to teach and include disabled children in physical education and school sport, driving more active and healthier lifestyles amongst pupils across the UK
Sainsbury's is committing £1 million to fund the teacher training courses which will help over 500,000 disabled and children with special educational needs to be included in school PE lessons.
In addition to the launch of Sainsbury's Active Kids For All, Sainsbury's also announced that as part of its on-going London 2012 Paralympic Games Legacy plans, it will be extending its partnership with the British Paralympic Association through to the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
As well as inspiring the next generation, Justin King also announced that Sainsbury's will be extending its sponsorship of the British Paralympic Association to help build on their success in 2012 and support them through the Sochi Winter Paralympic Games in 2014 and all the way to Rio in 2016.
Both of 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 continued commitment to school and elite sports in the UK.
Justin King, CEO Sainsbury's, commented: "We are aware that 80% of all disabled children currently attend mainstream schools and many are not being fully included in physical education classes as not all teaching staff have the knowledge, skills and confidence to make this possible. That is why we have developed Sainbury's Active Kids For All which we hope will help teachers to include disabled children in physical education and school sport. He continued: "I would like to thank The British Paralympic Association, the Youth Sport Trust and the home nation disability sport organisations for their support in helping us establish this important initiative."
John Steele, Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust, said: "The London Paralympics has been the greatest ever showcase for disability sport and has inspired young people across the country. By working with Sainsbury's on the Sainsbury's Active Kids For All programme, we are improving the knowledge and understanding of how best to teach physical education in schools for young disabled people as part of a more inclusive school sport experience."
Hugh Robertson MP, Minister for Sport, commented: "After this country's greatest ever summer of sport we must now do all we can to inspire the next generation of future Olympians and Paralympians. Sainsbury's Active Kids For All, along with the Sainsbury's School Games, will help increase disability sport in schools and encourage all children to get involved."
Edward Timpson MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Children and Families, commented: "We have seen over the last six weeks, from the start of the Olympics through to the conclusion of the Paralympics, how sport can bring a nation together. The country enjoyed its greatest medal success across both Games with inspirational performances from all of our athletes. The focus now has to be to ensure that we build on this success and drive sports participation across the schools network. The Sainsbury's Active Kids For All programme is an important step and will see the best possible training provided to teachers across the country to ensure that sport in schools is truly inclusive."
Tim Hollingsworth, CEO, British Paralympic Association, said: "Today's announcements demonstrate how we are working in partnership to maximise the momentum out of the London Games. Sainsbury's have recognised the role that the inspirational performances of the athletes can have and by partnering with us through to Rio 2016 have ensured that this 'stardust' can impact at grass roots level. Not only will Sainsbury's help ensure our team continues its success at the elite level, the Sainsbury's Active Kids For All programme will give children of all abilities the chance to experience sport at schools and community groups across the country. Integration and inclusion is key, sport doesn't differentiate and nor should we. We are looking forward to working with Sainsbury's, EFDS, Government, Sport England and the Youth Sport Trust on this exciting project."
Barry Horne, CEO of English Federation of Disability Sport, added: "Not enough disabled children are fully involved in PE in school. This continues to act as a barrier to more children and young disabled people becoming actively involved in sport for life. With a large majority of young disabled people now within mainstream education, the four home country disability sport organisations are determined that this provision of inclusive PE training to teachers will help to transform this position over time. The Sainsbury's Active Kids For All programme is a unique and freely available training initiative, designed to improve teachers' competence and confidence in providing a fully inclusive and positive physical education experience to young people with a wide range of needs."
