The Ability Sport Road Show is 3 years old and was concept developed to provide an opportunity for young people with a disability or additional needs to take part in a range of appropriate sporting activities with other young people from both mainstream and specialist schools across the borough.
It was identified that young people with additional needs or disabilities are underrepresented in the sporting arena. This could be down to a lack of opportunity or being excluded from sports activities in the school, and may not have had an enjoyable sporting experience in the past. The Ability Sport Road Show aims to address these issues and provide opportunities for young people to take part in activities which are adapted appropriately and in an environment where the focus is on having fun and everybody being involved.
The Ability Sport Road Show runs over 3-day period with sessions running at 3 different venues across Oldham. A morning session and an afternoon session are run on each day to allow a maximum number of young people to access the activities.
The Road Show primarily targets Year 5, 6, 7 & 8 pupils (although this is flexible depending on what was appropriate for the individual), and ensures that young people get to try out a number of activities, which in 2009 were Ability Counts football, wheelchair basketball, multi skill activities, table tennis and parachute games
This is a partnership event which also involves Oldham Disability Sport Group, Oldham Athletic Community Trust, Schools and Oldham Owls Sports Club.
In 2009 the Ability Sports Road Show attracted 188 young people with disabilities or additional needs from 31 schools. This event proves a great success in breaking down barriers to sport and physical activity and is very well received by young people, parents and schools.
Information on the 2010 Ability Sport Road Show will be made available in the near future. For more information please contact Laura Pearson on 0161 770 1641.