Disabled people in Peterborough will have more opportunities to get involved in sport after Inspire Peterborough, a Disability Peterborough project, has been given £277,720 of funding from Sport England’s Inclusive Sport fund.
The project is one of 44 across England that will benefit from £8.06 million of National Lottery investment from Sport England to open up more opportunities for disabled people to play sport.
Inspire Peterborough will use its funding to become the leading disability sporting partnership in Peterborough, improving the mental and physical health and wellbeing of everyone involved. Being the coordinating hub enabling effective creative partnerships between disabled people, their families and carers, charities and sporting organisations, in order to achieve significant increases in the numbers of people participating in disability sporting and leisure activities.
Councillor Irene Walsh, Cabinet Member for Community Cohesion, Safety and Public Health, said – “It has been a huge privilege to have been involved with the Inspire project right from the beginning. For me, this project is about making a reality the inspiration we all felt after the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. With the Sport England support we now have we are well on course to deliver our vision. We want to make Peterborough a city where a wide choice of disability sporting and recreational activities is integrated within our city-wide offer. ”
Sandie Burns the CEO of Disability Peterborough (formally known as DIAL Peterborough) said – “We are absolutely delighted with this award to make more sporting activities available for disabled people. The Inspire team have worked hard to make sport accessible and this project will not only help to improve sporting opportunities for disabled people in Peterborough, but also improve health, self-confidence and quality of life”
Nine times Paralympic swimming Gold Medalist, Chris, now Lord Holmes, who was born in our city and is Patron of Inspire Peterborough added – “This is a tremendous boost for the people of Peterborough, further enabling sporting opportunities across the city. The grant will mean more people, regardless of disability, will have the chance to try out and play sport and experience all the benefits that will bring. It’s such a tangible example of the legacy flowing from the London 2012 Paralympic Games.”
The number of disabled people playing sport regularly is on the rise and Sport England’s Inclusive Sport Fund supports programmes that aim to increase the number further. Since the fund launched, £17.1 million has been invested in 88 projects that make sport a viable lifestyle choice for disabled people.
As well as funding disability sport programmes, Sport England also funds equipment. In addition to today’s £8.06 million announcement, Sport England also recently awarded £1 million to 141 clubs across England to help them buy equipment to open up sport to disabled people.
Photos: Sport England
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