£8 million boost for Paralympic sports
Sport England today announced an £8 million fund to get more disabled people playing sport.
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson – one of Britain’s greatest Paralympians – was on hand to help Sport England launch the new Inclusive Sport fund, which will offer grants of over £10,000 to organisations ‘with the ideas and expertise to open up more sporting opportunities for disabled people’.
Sport England intends for the fund to tackle the opportunity gap that sees one in six disabled adults take part in sport regularly, compared to one in three able-bodied adults.
Sport England’s Chief Executive, Jennie Price, said: “It is an uncomfortable truth that disabled people enjoy fewer opportunities to get involved in sport. Sport England is committed to changing that, and making it easier for disabled people to fit sport into their daily lives.
“The Paralympic Games will put the sporting achievements of disabled people in the spotlight as never before. I want to make sure that Sport England’s £8m lottery investment is a catalyst to help more disabled people get involved.”
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson said: “I am delighted that this new allocation of funding is available and is specifically targeted at improving access to grassroots sport to more disabled people. I am confident that this will encourage people who don’t come from a traditional sporting background to participate.”
Clubs can bid for Inclusive Sport funding until 5pm on 13th August 2012. Find out more about the fund and how to apply at www.sportengland.org.
