EFDS annual report 2011 - English Federation of Disability Sport

Engaging the disability sectorIn 2010, we revealed a new focus to create a sustainable legacy of excellence and inclusionin sport. We wanted to get more disabled people acve in sport, for life. But we knew wecould not do it alone. So part of the focus has involved a major rethink of the way we work,brokering new relaonships between sports organisaons and the disability sector.During consultaon, we asked what was stopping sports geng more disabled peopleinvolved and what they needed to help with this. The overriding answer was “knowing howto engage with disabled people and market to them effecvely”.So we produced a resource which aimed to do just that- giving sport the movaon andinformaon needed to reach out to the many groups of disabled people or people whorepresent them.Titled “Engaging disabled people in sport”- the resource includes advice on navigang whatwe know is a complex environment. It highlights some of the many barriers- real andperceived- that exist to parcipaon, as well as showing how these can be overcome. Inaddion it makes the case for why this is so important- not just for disabled people, but forsport too.We commissioned Linda Laurie Associates to produce the resource complemented by adatabase of 6,500 disability organisaons across the UK. It is a free document available onthe EFDS website and provides guidance on relevant subjects.The next stage of this project began in 2010 as we needed a source to manage the disabilitysector database and keep it updated in an ever-increasing sector. We became partners withwww.dotcomunity.org.uk- a completely free web-based directory. It covers all support areasand tells users what opportunies exist to support their or others’ needs, including sportsacvies. Users can rate the opportunies and service provided, which helps other disabledpeople decide if it is suitable for them too.We hope sports bodies increase the use of this service- promong their opportunies tothousands of disabled people.