Annual Report April 2016 March 2017 This document is available in alternative formats on request.
Our Mission is: To ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to live a full, active and healthy lifestyle through sport and active recreation. Be active. Be the best.
Contents 4 Key Achievements 2016 2017 6 Improving Health and Wellbeing Community Sport and Active Recreation 6 The Inclusive Sport and Leisure Initiative 6 Women in Sport FitHer Programme 7 Live Active NI Projects 7 Every Body Active 2020 Programme 7 Get Out Get Active (GOGA) 8 Community Events 10 District Council Disability Sports Hub Project 12 Improving Access Sports Facility Access 12 Inclusive Sports Facility Advisory Group 12 Sports Facility Design and Management Guidelines 13 Inclusive Sports Facility (ISF) Accreditation Scheme 14 Developing Sporting Talent Performance Sport and Club Development 14 Rio 2016 Paralympic Games 15 Athlete Support 15 Pupil to Paralympian: Discovering Hidden Talent 16 Wheelchair Basketball 17 Boccia 18 Active Clubs Programme 19 Inclusive Sport Award 20 Inclusive Club Award 21 Supporting Inclusion Training, Education and Volunteers 21 Training Courses 22 Inclusive Education Initiatives 22 5 Star Disability Sports Challenge Education Project 22 Disability Awareness Activity Sessions 22 Volunteers 22 Youth Sport Trust Inclusive Futures 23 Making It Happen Governance and Representation 23 Governance 23 Core Funding 23 Active Living: No Limits 2016 2021 Action Plan 23 Representation 24 Annual Accounts 2016 2017 25 Our Board of Directors and Staff 2016 2017 26 Support Us 3
Key Achievements 2016 2017 9,502 children and adults enjoyed sport and active recreation through Disability Sport NI this year. Including: 4,936 children and young people participated in our education and awareness projects. 1,888 people with disabilities took part in our 6 local active recreation projects. 891 people with a disability got active through our Active Clubs Programme. 1,317 children and adults with disabilities competed in our 10 fun-focused community events. 963 sports leaders, coaches, leisure services staff and teachers were trained for disability inclusion in sport. 4
600,000 investment was secured from the Department for Communities through Sport NI to establish 11 District Council Disability Sports Hubs and 4 water sports projects. There were 9 athletes from Northern Ireland who competed at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games and secured 5 gold medals and 1 silver medal. We published 4 updated Sports Facilities and Sports Stadia Design and Management Guidelines, as well as Boxing Facilities Guidance Notes and Sports Pavilions Guidance Notes. There were 2 Governing Bodies of Sport awarded our new Inclusive Sport Award. The Wheelchair Basketball Programme was further developed. James MacSorley. Photo credit: BWB Will Johnston The Boccia Programme was further developed. 5
Improving Health and Wellbeing Community Sport and Active Recreation We improved the health and wellbeing of 1,888 children and adults with disabilities through 6 local sports and active recreation projects, 4 of which were delivered through our new Community Interest Company Live Active NI. The Inclusive Sport and Leisure Initiative (in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council) The project expanded this year from delivering just within Craigavon to providing a range of inclusive sports programmes throughout the whole borough council area. Following maternity leave, the Inclusive Leisure Officer Colleen Connolly has delivered a range of sports participation opportunities to 183 participants since her return in November. Women in Sport FitHer Programme A new pilot programme, funded by Department for Communities through Sport NI, was delivered to increase female participation in sport and challenge negative attitudes towards people with a disability. There were 6 female sports role models trained to deliver a My Sport, My Story workshop to 500 secondary school pupils. There were 15 coaches who received training to support disability inclusion in sport. There were 9 fitness programmes delivered to 45 female participants with a disability. 6
Live Active NI Projects We successfully launched Live Active NI, our new Community Interest Company and delivered 4 new projects to improve the health and wellbeing of people with disabilities, people with long-term health conditions and other under-represented groups. Every Body Active 2020 Programme This Sport NI funded programme, managed by Belfast City Council, was successfully launched in December 2016 to increase participation in sport and active recreation among traditionally under-represented groups. As a delivery partner, Live Active NI was responsible for 2 areas: North & West Belfast and South and East Belfast. Active Recreation Officers Davy Purdy and Pablo Córdoba Huertos successfully delivered active recreation sessions and events to 404 participants. Get Out Get Active (GOGA) The Get Out Get Active Project, funded by Spirit of 2012, was launched in January 2017 to support people with disabilities and non-disabled people to get active together. Live Active NI delivered the project within 2 council areas: Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon and Derry City and Strabane. Active Recreation Officers, Ryan McQuillan and Kieran Coyle delivered a range of activity sessions and events to 678 participants. 7
Community Events 1,317 children and adults with disabilities competed in 10 fun-focused community events. Belfast Harbour Commission Inclusive Walking and Cycling Festival A total of 210 participants took part in 4 inclusive walking and cycling events throughout the summer enjoying the picturesque route between Belfast Harbour Commissioner s Office and Titanic Belfast. Junior Paralympic Fun Day There were 42 children with physical disabilities who tried 13 different sports at Girdwood Community Hub in October 2016 and met 5 local returning athletes from the Rio Paralympic Games. 8
Schools New Age Kurling Competition There were 22 teams from schools throughout Northern Ireland who competed at Antrim Forum. Schools Boccia Competition A total of 105 participants from schools throughout Northern Ireland competed at Antrim Forum. Sports Hall Athletics Championships There were 140 school children who competed at Lagan Valley Leisureplex. North West Sports Hall Athletics Championships A total of 70 school children competed at Templemore Sports Complex. Senior Boccia Competition A total of 80 participants competed at Lisburn Racquets Club. 9
District Council Disability Sports Hub Project In October 2016, Department for Communities Minister Paul Givan MLA announced a 600,000 investment to fund the development of a Disability Sports Hub in each of Northern Ireland s 11 District Council areas. 10
Each Disability Sports Hub will have a range of specialist sports wheelchairs, adapted bikes and inclusive sports equipment which will support the inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in at least 14 different sports and activities. District Council Disability Sports Hub The project will be complemented by the development of 4 inclusive water sports hubs at Belfast Lough Sailability, Foyle Sailability, Lough Erne Yacht Club and Craigavon Water Sports Centre. All equipment has been procured and agreements have been reached with all 11 District Councils with a view to launching the project in September 2017. 11
Improving Access Sports Facility Access Inclusive Sports Facility Advisory Group The Inclusive Sports Facility (ISF) Advisory Group consists of representatives from key disability organisations who met regularly throughout the year, progressing issues related to sports facilities and stadia. They also liaised with sports facility operators and designers, encouraging and supporting them to improve the experience of people with disabilities using sports facilities. Access advice was given on key projects to the National Stadium at Windsor Park and on the new designs for Casement Park. Sports Facility Design and Management Guidelines We launched 4 updated Sports Facilities and Sports Stadia Design and Management Guidelines, as well as Boxing Facilities Guidance Notes and Sports Pavilions Guidance Notes in December 2016. The guidelines have been endorsed by the Inclusive Sports Facility Advisory Group. 12
Guide 1 Guide 1 Guide 2 Guide 2 Accessible Sports Facilities Design Guidelines Accessible Sports Facilities Design Guidelines Accessible Sports Facilities Management Guidelines Accessible Sports Facilities Management Guidelines 2016 Edition 2016 Edition www.dsni.co.uk www.dsni.co.uk Guide 3 Guide 3 Guide 4 Guide 4 Accessible Sports Stadia Design Guidelines Accessible Sports Stadia Design Guidelines Accessible Sports Stadia Management Guidelines Accessible Sports Stadia Management Guidelines 2016 Edition 2016 Edition www.dsni.co.uk www.dsni.co.uk Guidance Notes Boxing Facilities Guidance Notes Guidance Notes Sports Pavilions Guidance Notes Boxing Facilities Sports Pavilions 2016 Edition 2016 Edition www.dsni.co.uk www.dsni.co.uk The new guidance documents have been developed to encourage facility operators and designers to develop sports facilities and stadia that are more inclusive of people with disabilities. Inclusive Sports Facility (ISF) Accreditation Scheme In partnership with All In Access Consultancy we continued to support a range of sports facilities throughout Northern Ireland to secure Disability Sport NI s Inclusive Sports Facility (ISF) Accreditation. The ISF Accreditation recognises sports facilities that meet optimum levels of good practice in terms of access for people with disabilities. To date, 11 facilities have successfully achieved accreditation and 5 facilities are working towards accreditation. 13
Developing Sporting Talent Performance Sport and Club Development Michael McKillop and Jason Smyth. Photo credit: Paralympics Ireland It is hard to describe how incredible it is to cross the line first on such a big occasion. I am very grateful I have a good team around me playing such an important role. Over the past few years Northern Ireland has been gaining its reputation for punching well above its weight when it comes to international success in para athletics with a very high medal return rate. Jason Smyth, Rio Paralympian, Athletics Rio 2016 Paralympic Games Northern Ireland athletes continued to lead the way on the world stage excelling at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. A record number of 9 local athletes were selected to represent both Paralympics Ireland and Paralympics GB. Collectively the athletes took home 6 medals including 5 gold. The 9 athletes from Northern Ireland were: Paralympics GB: Bethany Firth Swimming Katie Morrow Wheelchair Basketball Claire Taggart Boccia David Leavy CP Football Paralympics Ireland: Jason Smyth Athletics Michael McKillop Athletics Philip Eaglesham Shooting Cormac Birt CP Football Ryan Walker CP Football The 3 athletes who won medals were: Swimming Bethany Firth 100m Backstroke Gold 200m Freestyle Gold 200m IM Gold 100m Breaststroke Silver Athletics Jason Smyth 100m Track Gold Michael McKillop 1500m Gold 14
Athlete Support Many Paralympic athletes are now managed and supported by their mainstream governing bodies of sport. However, Disability Sport NI continued to support a number of athletes during the year through securing Sport NI funding for athletes, managing athlete agreements and liaising with National British and Irish Governing Bodies of Sport, the Sports Institute of Northern Ireland, Paralympics Ireland and Paralympics GB. Athletes included: Bethany Firth Swimming Claire Taggart Boccia Katie Morrow Wheelchair Basketball Kelly Gallagher Alpine Skiing Disability Sport NI also secured development grants from the Mary Peters Trust for the following athletes: Ross Gourley Wheelchair Tennis James MacSorley Wheelchair Basketball Amy McMillan Deaf Badminton John Nicholl Deaf/Blind Archery William Graham Boccia Pupil to Paralympian: Discovering Hidden Talent Disability Sport NI continued to broaden its talent ID programmes by delivering a new Pupil to Paralympian Workshop for teachers, trainee teachers and classroom assistants. 185 teachers took part in the workshop. The 2.5 hour workshop provides participants with the knowledge and skills to: Encourage and support pupils with disabilities to get involved in school and club sport Advise and educate pupils with disabilities on sporting opportunities available to them Identify and signpost potential sporting talent Inspire the next generation of athletes with disabilities 15
Katie Morrow in action. Photo credit: BWB Will Johnston Wheelchair Basketball The Sport NI funded Wheelchair Basketball Programme was successfully delivered by our Wheelchair Basketball Performance Officer, Phil Robinson. The Under 15 Squad won the British Wheelchair Basketball Championships in April. Teams competed in the Celtic Cup, National Junior Championships and UK School Games. Regular High Performance Centre and Regional Performance Centre sessions weekly and bi-weekly throughout the year. Katie Morrow became the first athlete from Northern Ireland to compete at the Paralympic Games in wheelchair basketball. Through Paralympics GB, Katie competed at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games with the GB Women s Wheelchair Basketball Team, securing a top 4 position, their highest ranking position in a Paralympics to date. Katie Morrow and James MacSorley have been named by British Wheelchair Basketball as Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games athletes. 16
Boccia The Northern Ireland programme was successfully implemented during the year, including the organisation and delivery of: Monthly training sessions for the Northern Ireland Squad The Northern Ireland League Coaching support to talented players The Northern Ireland Squad s participation in the GB National Championships in July 2016 Following a silver medal at the World Open in Portugal and a bronze medal at the GB Nationals, Claire Taggart became the first athlete from NI to compete in the Paralympic Games in the sport of boccia. Claire and her BC1/2 team mates secured a top 8 position at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Claire has also been named as a Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games athlete. As I am an athlete on the world-class programme, I experience a lot of physio, hydro and a lot of social benefits. I have made a lot of friends and am travelling the world playing a sport that I love. Claire Taggart, Rio Paralympian, Boccia 17
When I was at school I hated sports. I was always the one excluded when teams were picked. I m now 50 years of age and they always said life begins at 40, well my life has begun at 50 thanks to Disability Sport NI with my tennis. Debbie Shaw, Participant Active Clubs Programme The Sport NI, National Lottery funded Active Clubs Programme was successfully implemented during the year. Active Clubs Co-Ordinators Odhrán Doherty and Judith Brennan continued working with a number of mainstream clubs and disability organisations on developing regular and sustainable inclusive sports club opportunities. The project focuses on people with sight loss and physical disabilities. 891 people benefited from the Active Clubs Programme. 18
Inclusive Sport Award We continued to encourage and support governing bodies of sport to be more inclusive of people with disabilities through the Inclusive Sport Award. To date, the award has been presented to 2 governing bodies of sport and we continue to work through a detailed action plan with each organisation to ensure continued inclusion in their sport: Irish Football Association Athletics NI We continue to work with 4 other governing bodies of sport on the development of their disability action plans with a view to securing the Inclusive Sport Award next year: Ulster Rugby Ulster Badminton Swim Ulster RYA NI 19
We would do classes where participants have to think for themselves or have to teach us. It teaches them to learn visually and by our instructions. We then take them through the skills, developing all three learning processes for the gymnast. Stephanie Martin, Rathgael Gymnastics and Tumbling Club Inclusive Club Award The Inclusive Club Award scheme was developed by our Performance Sport Manager, Elaine Reid to recognise clubs who were being inclusive of people with disabilities. Congratulations to this year s winners Inclusive Disability Club of the Year: Belfast Lough Sailability Inclusive Mainstream Club of the Year: Rathgael Gymnastics and Tumbling Club 20
Supporting Inclusion Training, Education and Volunteers Training Courses 58 courses delivered to 963 participants. The Disability Sport NI training supports sports leaders, coaches, leisure services staff and teachers to better include people with disabilities in sport and active recreation. This year we delivered the following courses: 17 Disability Inclusion Training 11 Sainsbury s Active Kids For All 7 Boccia Leaders Award 5 Inclusive Games 3 Inclusive Skills 3 Autism and Sport 4 Pupil to Paralympian 1 Boccia Level 1 1 Boccia Referees 1 Wheelchair Basketball Grade 1 1 Wheelchair Sports Skills 4 Bespoke Training 21
Inclusive Education Initiatives A total of 4,936 children and young people participated in education and awareness projects to challenge and address negative attitudes and misconceptions about people with a disability. 5 Star Disability Sports Challenge Education Project There were 3,240 children in 25 schools who took part in the Sport NI and Department for Communities funded 5 Star Disability Sports Challenge between January and March 2017. Disability Awareness Activity Sessions Last year 1,696 participants took part in 33 activity-based disability awareness sessions. Sessions included disability sports festivals for youth clubs, Paralympic themed Road Show events and disability sports-themed summer schemes to raise the profile of the charity and awareness of disability sports. Volunteers There were 82 volunteers who kindly gave up their time to help us deliver our programmes throughout the year. We would like to say a big thank you on behalf of the charity. Youth Sport Trust Inclusive Futures Lead Your Generation Project The Youth Sport Trust project was successfully delivered within the first 6 months of the year to boost youth leadership and volunteering amongst young people. Inclusive Futures Officer, Mark Montgomery and a volunteer attended the UK Youth Sport School Games in Loughborough on 2nd and 3rd September for a final Inclusive Futures event to celebrate the success of the concluding UK wide project. 22
Making It Happen Governance and Representation Governance To ensure that the charity continued to meet optimum levels of good practice in governance, Disability Sport NI continued to review and update its policies and procedures on a 3 year cycle throughout the reporting period, maintaining its robust level of assurance from Sport NI. Core Funding Funding of 719,665 has been secured from Sport NI s Sporting Winners and Sporting Clubs Programmes to deliver performance and competition programmes in the sports of wheelchair basketball, boccia and para snow sport during the 2017 2021 period. This follows on from the successful negotiation of a generous new core funding package with Sport NI last year to allow the charity to implement its ambitious new 2016 2020 period. Active Living: No Limits 2016 2021 Action Plan Disability Sport NI played a key role in the development of Active Living: No Limits 2021, a new action plan launched in October 2016 to improve the health and wellbeing of people with disabilities in Northern Ireland through participation in sport and active recreation. The plan was developed by a project board consisting of representatives from the Department for Communities, Department of Health, Department of Education, Sport NI, the Northern Ireland Sports Forum, Disability Action and Disability Sport NI. Following the launch of the action plan, membership of the project board was extended to include Special Olympics Ulster, Deaf Sport NI, the Blind Sports Network NI and the Chief Leisure Officers Association (CLOA). Representation Disability Sport NI continued to represent the interests of people with disabilities on the following key national organisations and committees: Active Living: No Limits 2021 Forum British Paralympic Association National Paralympic Committee (Paralympics GB) GB Boccia Sport Matters Implementation Group (SMIG) UK Home Country Disability Sports Organisations Chief Executive Officers Forum UK Disability Sport Training and Education Source Group Disability Sport NI also maintained a close working relationship with Paralympics Ireland and the British Wheelchair Basketball Association. 23
Annual Accounts 2016 2017 A full set of the charity s audited accounts for the period is available on the Disability Sport NI website, however an overview of the organisation s financial position of the year 1st April 2016 31st March 2017 is provided below: 3.2% 2.2% 1.7% 1.4% 1.7% 0.7% 19.6% Income 69.5% The total income for the financial year was 1,226,806 compared with 609,818 in the previous year. Total expenditure for the financial year was 1,187,362 compared to 586,708 in the previous year. The large increase in income and expenditure during the year compared to the previous year was largely as a result of a significant capital investment in the District Council Disability Sports Hub Project by the Department for Communities as outlined on page 10. The organisation made a surplus for the year of 39,444 ( 21,954 of this is restricted funds compared with a surplus of 20,110 in the previous year). Accumulated funds at the end of the year therefore increased from 153,357 to 192,801. Funders 2016 2017 4.8% 3.4% 2.3% 2.6% Sport NI Grants Sport NI Core Grant Other Grants Training Income Donations Sponsorship Other Income Consultancy Income Expenditure 64.9% 22% Performance Sport and Club Development Community Participation and Competition Training, Education and Volunteering Sports Facility Access Strategic Planning and Policy Development Communications and Engagement 24
Our Board of Directors and Staff 2016 2017 Directors Barry Macaulay, Chairperson Angela Hendra MBE, Vice Chairperson Darren Cave Dawn McGookin Ken Armstrong Laura-Lee Jenkins Michael Hilland Michael McAteer MBE Orla Fox Stephen Friel Honorary President Dr Janet Gray MBE, Honorary President Staff Kevin O Neill, Chief Executive Officer Karen Drennan, Finance and Business Manager Aubrey Bingham, Community Sport Manager Elaine Reid, Performance Sport Manager Anita O Connor, Administrator Andrea Kilpatrick, Communications and Engagement Officer (from Nov 2016) Philip Robinson, Wheelchair Basketball Performance Officer Odhrán Doherty, Active Clubs Coordinator Mark Montgomery, Community Sport Development Officer Colleen Connolly, Inclusive Sports and Leisure Officer, Craigavon Vicki Kennedy, Active Clubs Coordinator (to Sept 2016) Linsey McKeown, Inclusive Community Coach (to Sept 2016) Judith Brennan, Inclusive Community Coach (to Sept 2016) David Purdy, Inclusive Community Coach (to Sept 2016) Patricia O Neill, Women in Sport Project Co-ordinator (Nov 2016 Mar 2017) Rebecca Greenaway, Women in Sport Project Assistant (Jan Mar 2017) Sam Bridge, Sports Development Assistant (Jan Mar 2017) David Leavy, Sports Development Assistant (Jan Mar 2017) Live Active NI Board of Directors and Staff Directors Barry Macaulay, Chairperson Kevin O Neill Karen Drennan Aubrey Bingham Elaine Reid Staff Vicki Kennedy, Manager (from Oct 2016) David Purdy, Active Recreation Officer, Belfast (from Dec 2016) Pablo Córdoba Huertos, Active Recreation Officer, Belfast (from Jan 2017) Kieran Coyle, Active Recreation Officer, Derry City and Strabane DC (from Nov 2016) Ryan McQuillan, Active Recreation Officer, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon BC (from Nov 2016) 25
Support Us Did you know that 374,646 people in Northern Ireland have a disability or long-term health condition but are half as likely to participate in sport and active recreation as non-disabled people? How you can support Disability Sport NI: Make a donation Legacy giving Volunteering Nominate us as your charity of the year Sponsor a Disability Sport NI event or programme Book a Disability Sport NI Team Building Challenge Take part in our Virtual Wheelchair Marathon Do a Steps for Disability Sports Challenge 26
Our Vision is: An inclusive society where people with disabilities fully participate in all aspects oflife, including sport and active recreation. Be active. Be the best.
Disability Sport NI Unit F, Curlew Pavilion Portside Business Park 189 Airport Road West Belfast BT3 9ED Telephone: 028 9046 9925 Textphone: 028 9046 3494 Email: email@dsni.co.uk www.dsni.co.uk Disability Sport NI is registered with The Charity Commission Northern Ireland, NIC 102838 and is a company limited by guarantee, No. NI32590 Designed by: whitenoisestudios.com