Buckinghamshire

Evidence Base 80% of adults with LD engage in levels of physical activity below the minimum recommended by the Dept of Health. »Messent et al 1998 (BJLD) Participation rate for disabled adults is significantly lower than for non-disabled adults »Sport England 2002

Aims of Get Active Aims: Create and deliver a programme of activity that will support and encourage people with learning disability to use community based sports and leisure facilities Overcome some of the problems faced by PWLD when accessing sport Bridge the gap between the community facilities available and the support needed, Providing a range of supportive environments encourage people to take more physical activity and lead a healthier lifestyle.

Steering Group Meets every 2 months Representation from: –Bucks Sport (CSP) –Nexus (Local Leisure Provider) –Bucks County Council Day Opportunities –Bucks County Council Prevention Team Disability Sports Coordinator Disability Sports Development Officer

First Steps Consultation days April – May 08 Summer activities and festival – July – August September – began weekly sessions December – began training of coaches, volunteers etc

1 Year on Well over 100 People with Learning Disabilities have taken part in Get Active sessions in the last year –Football to Boccia to Martial Arts Sports Leaders UK – Day Certificate in Sports Leadership course to be run for people with LD Local steering group of adults with learning disabilities Coaches have received LD training Bank of Volunteers to help sustainable activity Get Active Birthday Party!

Feedback, Evaluation and Monitoring Evaluation forms for participants Evaluations from carers and parents Attempted to get feedback on increase in activity levels and/or activity Try semi-structured interviews and simple format

Carer feedback Benefitted socially as regards mixing with other service users who like football They talk about their friends at football He has lost weight this year, not necessarily from Get Active but coming here helps He joins in and tries to converse with others He is always smiling during the session, he enjoys the company of other young adults

Participant feedback Key themes –Competition –Enjoyment –Achievement –Activity itself All of it I love it Good teamwork Really active, heart pumping Because I won Learning and improving Keep me fit Lose weight

Steps towards inclusion and equality of access Sessions held in local leisure centres –To aid familiarity for the service user and leisure centre staff Training of Leisure centre staff and involvement in session –Including front desk staff Work with local mainstream clubs –To enable and encourage people with learning disabilities to access mainstream clubs

A few barriers Cost Support staff attitudes to sport Right sport, right level, right venue Timing Venue availability Variation in ability levels Participant experience of different sports

Now what and other ideas? Increase activity range –Swimming, Health walks Increase venues Increase volunteers Increase leisure centre and sports club involvement –Learning disability training Publicity material Learning disability staff training

Questions

Contact Details Polly Owens –Disability Sports Coordinator Patricia Moynihan –Disability Sports Development Officer