Sainsbury's pledges to inspire next generation
Investment in inclusive sport for schools will build on the success of the School Games.
Sainsbury’s has launched an inclusive PE training programme for teachers which aims to ensure disabled children can take part in sport in mainstream schools.
Sainsbury’s Active Kids For All was launched today at Chiswick School in London with Paralympic gold medallist Ellie Simmonds, who joined children to answer their questions.
The supermarket chain is committing £1 million to fund the teacher training courses which will help more than 500,000 disabled pupils and children with special education needs to be included in school PE lessons.
Justin King, CEO of Sainsbury’s, said: “While teaching and support staff undoubtedly have the skills, knowledge and competencies to deliver sport to disabled children and young people, not all have the confidence to fully include disabled children within their PE lessons. That is why we have worked with the Home Nations Disability Sport Organisations to develop Sainsbury’s Active Kids For All.”
Paralympic sponsorship extended
Mr King also announced the company will extend its sponsorship of the British Paralympic Association (BPA) to support them through the Sochi Winter Paralympic Games in 2014 and to Rio in 2016.
Today’s launch builds on Sainsbury’s £10 million support package for the School Games, which is a fully inclusive competition aiming to encourage competitive sport among young people across the spectrum of abilities.
Sports Minister Hugh Robertson said: “After this country’s greatest ever summer of sport we must now do all we can to inspire the next generation of future Olympians and Paralympians. Sainsbury’s Active Kids For All, along with the Sainsbury’s School Games, will help increase disability sport in schools and encourage all children to get involved.”
The programme has been developed in partnership with and will be delivered by the disability sports organisations for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, alongside the Youth Sport Trust and supported by the BPA.