ORGANISATION SPOTLIGHT: ACCESS SPORT

Access Sport, is a national inclusion charity in the UK that  believes no one should be excluded from the transformational benefits of community sport. We train, equip and support community sports clubs, organisations and volunteers to provide inclusive programmes, unleashing their potential to transform the lives of underserved young people in their local communities.

ACCESS SPORTS’ FOCUS

“In partnership with the Sweaty Betty Foundation, Women in Sport and Nuffield Health, Access Sport carried out a research project to identify the barriers that prevent disabled teenage girls from taking part in sport and exercise.

The ‘Breaking Barriers’ report built on Women in Sport’s ‘Reframing Sport for Teenage Girls’ research and explored disabled teenage girls' attitudes towards sport and exercise.

The report highlighted that this inactivity is contributing to disabled teenage girls experiencing worrying mental health issues, including being less happy and more anxious.”

KEY FINDINGS

• Many disabled teenage girls understand the benefits of playing sport or exercising and want to do more. 
  67% of disabled teenage girls wanted to be more active.

• Disabled teenage girls are frustrated by the lack of suitable opportunities outside of school. 
  53% said they would take part in sport and exercise if there were more opportunities outside of school

• Disabled teenage girls face additional barriers to being active compared to non-disabled teenage girls. 
  54% of disabled teenage girls felt coaches or instructors don’t understand their impairment, health condition, illness or disability.

• Girls only opportunities help girls find joy in sport and, for many disabled teenage girls, participating with other disabled girls is important. 
  54% of disabled teenage girls want to take part with other disabled girls.

• Coaches, volunteers and teachers play a key role in creating a non-judgmental and welcoming environment.
  50% of disabled teenage girls said it would be easier for them to be active if coaches or instructors could adapt activities to their needs.

ACCESS SPORT LEVELLING THE FIELD

“Levelling the field means to tackle the inequalities that exist in sport at all levels of the sporting system. 

It’s creating more disability inclusive sessions at a grassroots level, training the sporting workforce to adapt delivery to disabled young people, and advocating for greater disability inclusion at a policy level.”

THE ROLE OF SPORTS FEDERATIONS & ORGANISATIONS 

“National and international Governing Bodies and federations are pivotal for ensuring inclusion is a key priority from grassroots to an elite level. Our Changing Sports work with National Governing Bodies in the UK has shown how bodies can work collaboratively with sport for development charities to ensure their sports are at the forefront of promoting inclusion and tackling inequalities. 

For example, our partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association has provided vital opportunities for disabled young people to play tennis and provided valuable training to tennis workforce so they can embed inclusion into all their delivery

For Access Sport, a sense of belonging and community underpin the wider transformational benefits of sport and need to be prioritised in the way National and International Governing Bodies and federations support and fund the sector. 

If we are truly committed to addressing societal inequalities, we need to change how activity is delivered. We need to ensure every child walking through the doors of their local club, youth centre or sports centre, feels welcomed and included, irrespective of their background or abilities, so that they can then enjoy the activities on offer and the wider benefits they bring. 

This is backed up by our July 2024, Building Stronger Communities report which revealed that by prioritising community engagement and creating a sense of belonging, community sport clubs can maximise other wider social outcomes, including improved health, wellbeing and life prospects.”

Shaping the Future of Adaptable Sport 

“I would ask all federation or Governing Bodies to ensure in all training schemes whether it is coaching badges, refereeing awards etc, have para sport elements built into them. That way we are equipping our sporting workforce from the outset to adapt and deliver inclusively.”