Following the success of the inaugural Waverley Para Games event last April, Jeremy Hunt, MP for South West Surrey announces the second year of the Games, due to take place at Charterhouse Club on 26th March 2015.
The second year of the Waverley Para Games programme follows the event last April, hosted by Charterhouse Club, which saw over 100 young SEND students from all over Surrey take part & with Paralympians Rachel Morris, Claire Harvey and Kylie Grimes were in attendance, cheering the participants on. With continuing funding from COINS Foundation and support from Active Surrey the programme has continued to evolve and plans for 2015 include the support of sport's National Governing Bodies who are interested in developing more community groups for disability sport for young people in the area.
Wendy Newton, Youth Sports Development Manager, Active Surrey said "We are delighted, for the second year running, to be involved in the Waverley Para Games project, which has now been fully embedded into the Surrey School Games programme, delivered by Active Surrey. Inclusive events like this enable us to reach more young people who would not otherwise have as many opportunities for competitive participation, especially those with special education needs and disabilities in mainstream schools." Ciorsdan Glass of COINS Foundation said, 'We are thrilled to be supporting the second Waverley Para Games. COINS Foundation supports a wide range of projects aimed at influencing others to think differently about poverty, disability and injustice. We are delighted that more young people are able to access inclusive sport in their schools and communities as a result of this initiative.'
The Games will again be hosted by Charterhouse Club, based in Godalming, Surrey. The facilities include a sports hall, several studios, a pool and outdoor athletics and and astro pitches, and the use of the venue has afforded the opportunity to further expand the Waverley Para Games breadth and reach from increasing the number of participants, diversifying the programme of sports on offer to increasing the breadth of delivery to include a more significant and specialist element of teacher training for local teachers. Tim Ostle, Commercial Director at Charterhouse, commented “We are delighted that the Charterhouse Club has been chosen to host this fantastic event once again in 2015. We look forward to welcoming youngsters from around the area and helping them to gain the most from this wonderful opportunity to participate in sport”
Local Paralympian Rachel Morris has been a supporter of the games since its beginnings. A Bronze medallist in the 2012 Olympics in hand cycling and now part of the GB Para Rowing team and in training for Rio she said,’I'm delighted to help launch the second year of the Waverley Para Games programme. Last year's inaugural event was really important for the area and for supporting SEND youngsters in gaining better access to sport. Just because your body doesn't work in the way it ideally should it doesn't mean you can't have the same dreams and achieve the same goals as your peers but it is vital that teachers, schools and communities can enable youngsters to access the right clubs and training and create these opportunities. I believe initiatives such as the Waverley Para Games are just what we need in the area and ultimately nationally to increase the chances for any young person with a disability to achieve excellence in sport.'
Jeremy Hunt said,'We have been working hard with Active Surrey planning next March's event and continuing to further our aim to increase regular participation in sport for SEND youngsters in the area. The 2015 event will be bigger and better, with new sports scheduled along with the teacher training and new for this year an elite talent spotting element integrated into the programme. We are keen for the Waverley Para Games to continue to make an impact in Surrey, building on the legacy of 2012 and ensuring that there is a meaningful and lasting benefit for the young people who take part.'