Join the Get Berkshire Active initiative

Get Berkshire Active, the County Sports Partnership for Berkshire, is promoting the benefits of sport and physical activity for people of all abilities in the county, with a variety of programmes and initiatives that people with disabilities can join.
Justine Mosley, Partnership Development Coordinator for Get Berkshire Active said: “London 2012 captured the hearts and the minds of the nation.
"We have incredibly high hopes for Paralympics 2012 to do the same, and inspire people of all abilities to get active and take up sport.
“There is a wealth of opportunities for those with a disability to get involved in a variety of sports, and enjoy the benefits that sport can provide in Berkshire. Get Berkshire Active is here to help.”
Many inclusive activities are available for disabled athletes throughout Berkshire ranging from wheelchair basketball to air rifle shooting.
Here are a few examples of initiatives within Berkshire where disabled people looking to get more active can find help and advice or simply join in:

• Berks Disability Sport, initially funded by Get Berkshire Active, to drive the development of opportunities in sport for disabled people by bringing together organisations working in or around sport and disabled people. Divided into three hub groups – West, Central and East Berkshire – Berks Disability Sport supports the delivery of multisport clubs and acts as a signposting mechanism into sport specific opportunities in impairment specific and mainstream sport.

• Playground to Podium programme is supported by the hub groups and is aimed at helping young disabled people progress from school PE and community sport to high-level performance and competition.

• Disability Clubs – there are nine clubs across Berkshire that provide sport and recreation and an active social environment for members to enable them to take part.

• Inclusive Fitness Initiative Venues (IFI) is a programme that supports the fitness industry to become more inclusive, catering for the needs of disabled and non-disabled people alike. There are two venues in Berkshire that support IFI – Thatcham and Tadley.

• Get Berkshire Active sponsors seven coaches to support the delivery of wheelchair basketball and Boccia in Berkshire.

Justine Mosley said: "There’s a lot going on in the county to support those with a disability to participate in sport.
“We hope that Paralympics 2012 will inspire many more in Berkshire to join in and more volunteers to support the delivery of hub sessions and wider sports.”
Contact Get Berkshire Active at:
www.getberkshireactive.org
To get involved with Berks Disability Sport or one of the three hub groups across Berkshire contact:
Central – Lisa McGuigan - imcguigan@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk
East – Nick Gibbs - nick.gibbs@sportsable.co.uk
West – James Mandry - jmandry@westberks.org