A £10,000 grant from Sport England has expanded Sparsholt College’s extra-curricular sports offer, enabling more students to get fit and active. Eight sports wheelchairs are now being used to offer alternative activities for the College’s students with disabilities.
Nick Harrison, Sparsholt College Sports Maker explains further: “We wanted to offer sporting activities which cater for our students with disabilities. Equally we wanted an activity able-bodied students and those with disabilities could enjoy together on a ‘level playing field.’ So wheelchair sports are proving to be a great equaliser.”
The College has a reputation for elite sports and a new multi million pound sports centre ensures students on sporting and outdoor education courses can train in outstanding, modern facilities. Nick and the newly appointed Sports Activator, who has a wheelchair sports qualification, have widened and increased the sporting offer to students to meet the growing demand for extra-curricular activities.
Nick Harrison continues: “Our role is to increase participation in sport and we have a weekly programme of extra-curricular activity which is for all students based at the campus. Wheelchair sports are on the ‘Active Sparsholt’ programme and are proving popular, so far being used for Basketball and Tennis. Not only do the wheelchairs provide the tools needed for a practical session, they will also raise awareness of Paralympic sports, looking ahead to Rio 2016.”