Disability Sport in Kent Schools

Playground to Podium initiative

Playground to Podium is a national programme, being rolled out through Schools, to help find and support the next generation of Paralympic athletes.

The Schools element of the programme is being promoted by Youth Sports Trust, through the School Sports Partnerships (SSP) structure. and covers six sports ;- Athletics, Boccia, Football, Swimming, Table Tennis and Wheelchair Basketball.

The process involves the School Sports Partnerships running local multi-sport days to help them identify up to 10 talented athletes,plus a further 5 in Swimming.

In Kent, seven SSP's are signed up to deliver this programme during 2008/09, they are;-

  • Dartford SSP
  • Malling and Sevenoaks
  • Greenacre in Medway
  • Mid Kent and Ashford
  • Maidstone
  • Tonbridge and West Kent
  • Sheppey and Sittingbourne

In 2009/10 the following additional SSP's will join the programme;

  • Dover
  • Gravesham
  • Canterbury
  • Shepway
  • East Kent and Coastal
  • Thanet

And finally in 2010/11

  • Tunbridge Wells
  • Howard in Medway

It is hoped that this programme will help find the next generation of Paralympian's, along with Deaflympic and Special Olympic competitors

 

Panathlon work in Kent Schools

Panathlon logo           Children in Need logo       St James's Place Foundation logo

     Mid Kent /Ashford and Dartford take Kent Panathlon Challenge by Storm

The first ever Panathlon Challenge multi-sports events for young disabled people which took place in Kent this week, with around 200 young disabled people taking part from 8 different school sport partnerships in 6 different sports, resulted in resounding wins for the teams from both Dartford and Mid Kent /Ashford .

The events took place at Sittingbourne Community College on Wednesday 29th April for “East” Kent special schools , drawn from the school sports partnerships in Chatham, Ashford, Sheppey and Thanet, and on Thursday at The Malling School for “West” Kent special schools from Dartford, Malling, Tonbridge and Maidstone

MKA TeamMid Kent/Ashford were superb winning 5 of the 6 events outright in the “East” Kent day. Sheppey also put in a strong performance to finish second in this group and also qualify for the Kent Final on July 1st . On the “West” Kent day, the competition was a lot closer. Although Dartford were winners they did not have things all their own way, being chased by Maidstone who qualified for the Kent Final also.

On 1st July the first and second place team's from West and East Kent met at The Malling School to play out the Kent Final's. Unfortunately the Maidstone team were unable to attend, so Malling and Sevenoaks took their place.

After an exciting day of competitive sport Dartford and Mid Kent & Ashford finished joint winners.

The Panathlon Challenge was able to deliver these events through charity grants received from BBC Children in Need and St. James's Place Foundation, and is extremely grateful that the children in Kent have been able to benefit from their generosity.

Dartford TeamAshley Iceton, Panathlon organiser said "Once again disabled young people have shown how skilled and competitive they are as individuals and as part of a team. We had a fantastic 3 days in Kent. Our thanks to the schools and students for putting up such encouraging performances in Panathlon".

Talks have already started, to deliver Kent Panathlon Challenge 2010

For more information, or donations to the Panathlon Charity, pleas visit, www.panathlon.com

 

Special School Gets Sports College status

Valence Special School, near Westerham, has been awarded Sports College status. The School is the Kent County Council day and boarding special school for children with physical and multiple impairments and is an active supporter of disability sport.

Within the School the youngsters are particularly enthusiastic about Powered Wheelchair Football and Table Cricket, as well as Boccia, and have represented the county at numerous regional and national events.

Valence will be the 16th Sports College in Kent, and whilst remaining in the Malling and Sevenoaks School Sports Partnership, it will become a beacon for disability sports development in Schools,across Kent.

A second Special School in the County is now beginning the process of applying for Sports College status.

 

Youth Sport Trust have launched an inclusion website - http://inclusion.youthsporttrust.org/subpage/introduction/index.html