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Projects
Disability Sports NI has been involved in a range of innovative
projects and initiatives since it was launched in February 1998.
The projects are listed below followed by an outlined of their achievements:
Current Projects
Past Projects
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Lady Taverners New Age Kurling Project
The New Age Kurling project is the newest initiative to be introduced to Special Schools in Northern Ireland.
The project which is funded by the Lady Taverners, is an adapted version of the mainstream game of ice curling
and is fully inclusive of all disabilities. As part of the project all participating schools received a full
set of equipment and teacher training allowing schools to practice in the
lead up to Northern Ireland’s first New Age Kurling Championships due to be held in October 2005.
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Inclusive Fitness Initiative
An initiative which is aimed at fitness suites putting in place the necessary structures to enable and encourage
people with disabilities to utilise their facilities.
The initiative involves firstly an access audit of the facility, which encompasses parking, entrances, doors, receptions,
signage, lighting, toilets, changing areas, café, right through to the actual equipment used in the fitness suite.
The audit is followed by Implementation of the audit report findings, purchase of suitable equipment from the “accredited equipment
list”, which is a range of over 100 pieces of equipment which can used by everyone and have features e.g. swing away seats for wheelchair
users, colour coding for learning disability and sensory touch pads for visually impaired. Other aspects of IFI include: Disability
Awareness Training for all facility staff, specialised YMCA level 3 training for selected fitness suite staff, marketing of the
facility to local disabled people.
From July 2005 all District Councils in NI will have the opportunity to roll out the full IFI programme leading to IFI
accreditation for their chosen site.
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Inclusive Leisure Project
DSNI is currently working with 3 local Councils – Fermanagh, Lisburn & Craigavon on this pilot project
which encompasses the IFI as detailed above, as well as a Sports/Leisure Users Forum in each of the areas,
enabling local people to have a say on the range of programmes/activities on offer. The 3 sites – Lakeland
Forum, Lagan Valley LeisurePlex and Craigavon Leisure Centre have all had Facility Audits and are currently
working through the recommendations made by the Audit report. Staff at all 3 Centres have undertaken Disability
Awareness Training, the YMCA Fitness Trainers course will take place in late 2005, while a range of activity
sessions have taken place, such as; Tennis, Water Skiing, Wheelchair Basketball, as well as Walk Leaders Courses in each of the areas.
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Gliding Initiative
During May, around 25 people with Physical, Learning or Sensory disabilities took to the skies over Lough Foyle,
as part of an exciting initiative between DSNI and the Ulster Gliding Club. UGC had invited over to NI, the
Scottish based ‘Walking on Air’ group, which owns a dual-controlled glider, thus enabling those with mobility
difficulties the opportunity to experience the thrills (but no spills) of Gliding. UGC were using the initiative
as a means of gauging the interest level of local people with disabilities, and they are planning to put the necessary
fundraising wheels in motion to purchase a similar dual-controlled glider, which would be housed at the Club’s premises at Bellarena.
Water-ski Initiative
A project run annually with Meteor Waterski Club designed to introduce people with disabilities to the sport.
The project involves a number of beginner/development days which are held over the summer months.
The project has proved extremely popular with approximately 30 participants being introduced to the sport every year
Annual NI Swimming Championships for People with Disabilities:
The organisation of an annual pan-disability Swimming Gala involving 150 disabled adults
and children. Although the event is essentially about taking part and having fun,
swimmers in the fastest time-bands also have the opportunity to qualify for the UK
Championships at the event.
Special School Sports Hall Athletics Championship
Two regional Sports Hall Athletics Championships for Special Schools are held in Lagan Valley LeisurePlex, Lisburn
and Templemore Sports Complex, L’Derry. The events consist of a range of inclusive activities based on the main
athletics events, using adapted ‘Sports Hall Athletics’ equipment. The focus of the events is on fun and competition,
although participating schools have the opportunity to qualify for the NI Golden Cow Youth Games. Events have two competitive
categories, one for Special ‘S’ schools and one for Special ‘M’ Schools. With over 300 children involved over the two days,
the Sports Hall Athletics Championships have become one of the largest events in the Special Schools’ calendar.
‘Work-Out at the Waterfront’ Aerobics Project:
An annual aerobics project designed to encourage children and adults with disabilities to keep fit through
regular participation in the activity. The project involves the organisation of regular sessions in schools and centres throughout
Northern Ireland in the build up to a mass Aerobathon event held in Belfast’s ‘Waterfront Hall’ every December.
Northern Ireland Special Pool Festival:
An annual four day festival of pool for people with disabilities organised by the Northern Ireland Pool Association
in partnership with Disability Sports NI. Over 350 players with disabilities participate in the event each year.
Northern Ireland Youth Games:
Since 2002, Disability Sports NI has organised Disability Sports events as part of the Golden Cow Youth Games.
Over 100 children with disabilities now annually participate in the sports of Wheelchair Basketball, Sports
Hall Athletics and swimming as part of the games.
Active Magazine:
Published for the first time in January 2002, ‘Active’ is Disability Sports NI’s newsletter.
The full colour publication is published every six months and includes information, news and
reports on every aspect of disability sport in Northern Ireland.
View Active Magazine online...
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Past Projects
Northern Ireland Disability Sports Directory:
Produced to coincide with the launch of Disability Sports NI in February 1998,
the 55 page publication provided for the first time in Northern Ireland a comprehensive
range of information on sporting opportunities available to people with disabilities. The Belmont Foto Services Awards Scheme:
An awards scheme run by Disability Sports NI and sponsored by Belmont Foto Services.
Between 1995 and 1999 the Fund had successfully distributed over £50,000 to a range of clubs and
organisations to help support the establishment of local disability sports initiatives. BT Athletics Project
A UK-wide project designed to encourage more disabled people to become involved in
athletics as well as supporting the development of more talented athletes.
In Northern Ireland the project enabled Disability Sports NI to run hundreds
of coaching sessions in special schools and disability clubs, to organise training
camps for elite athletes as well as the organisation of annual athletics championships
for people with learning disabilities.
The Lady Taverners Sports Hall Athletics Project:
A project which provided kit bags of adapted sports hall athletics equipment,
teacher training resources and teacher training to 40 special schools in
Northern Ireland. The project benefited over 4,000 disabled children
living in every corner of Northern Ireland.
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