Council’s commitment to disabled sports recognised

Carmarthenshire County Council has been recognised for its contribution to disabled sports. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Insport Bronze Award was achieved by the council by Sport Wales for its commitment in providing an inclusive range of sporting and physical activity opportunities available to disabled people across the county. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Swimming, golf, karate, archery, canoeing table tennis, athletics and football are among those credited by the Disability Sport Wales programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

All council leisure centres have full disabled access and disabled facilities as well a team dedicated to helping those get involved in all types of sporting activities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Already Carmarthenshire has a number of sporting heroes who have represented Britain in the Paralympic and Commonwealth Games. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Powerlifter Lisa Pudner, discus thrower Claire Williams, Wheelchair racer Ritchie Powell and Boccia player Dean Thomas are among ambassadors of disabled sports in the county. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council’s executive board member for leisure, Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “First we were given the insport Ribbon and now we have been awarded the Bronze Ribbon. It’s a great achievement, with a lot of work been done by the sports and leisure section since then to ensure that an inclusive service is available to people with disabilities or specific needs. We have an important role to play in ensuring as many inclusive opportunities as possible are made available and we will continue to do that.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Insport is a four tiered identification and accreditation system, and the Ribbon standard is the first step. The Disability Sport Wales programme supports local authorities, national governing bodies of sport, along with clubs and organisations, to provide inclusive, quality sessions to disabled people within their own communities. These sessions are provided to the individual at a level of their choice, or their potential sport and leisure services team will now work toward achieving the silver and gold Insport accreditation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To find out more about the sporting opportunities for disabled people in the county contact Lisa Pudner, Disability Sport Development Officer on 01544 744345 or email LPudner@carmarthenshire.gov.uk ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​