New Look Para Games – to Expand & Target More Surrey Schools
Building on the success of the Waverley Para Games, which for the last three years has grown year on year, Jeremy Hunt, MP for South West Surrey, today announced that the Games is to expand and target more Surrey schools in 2017.
More than that, the annual event will also offer a choice of sports all endorsed by National Governing Sports Bodies and also link to local sports clubs to allow for greater, regular participation in sport by children.
The annual event will once more take place at The Charterhouse Club in Godalming, Surrey but move from its usual spring date to the summer – 7th July 2017. In so doing it will give schools more time to prepare but also make more use of the Club’s extensive outdoor facilities (weather permitting).
With Paralympian Rachel Morris MBE again supporting the event, along with International Para Dressage Rider Erin Orford and others (yet to be announced) athletes, the Games look set to produce another great day.
Last year 150 young SEND students (aged 11-14 years) from Surrey schools took part in the Games and it is hoped this year’s event will attract even more athletes and schools from throughout the county.
Jeremy Hunt MP said: “I am delighted we are in a position to further develop this event which would not be possible without the generous sponsorship of COINS Foundation and The DFN Foundation.
“This year’s event will be bigger and better, with more schools taking part from across the county. We are also giving schools a choice which sports they participate in for the first time to try and broaden the appeal and variety on offer to these young athletes.
“Once again we will be working with Active Surrey who do a fantastic job in coordinating everything to ensure the smooth running of the event on the day.”
“We are trying to create more participation in sports and activity throughout the year rather than making this one day of sport for these children. This is why we have made more of getting a firm commitment from the NGBs and where possible, local sports clubs, to truly get their ‘buy-in’ and help after our event,” said Wendy Newton, Youth Sports Development Manager, Active Surrey.
The Games will again be hosted by Charterhouse Club where facilities include a sports hall, several studios, a pool, outdoor athletics and astro pitches. The use of the venue has afforded the opportunity to further expand the Surrey 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.
If your Surrey school is interested in getting involved please contact Wendy at Active Surrey on: [email protected]
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The Photos show:
One of Rachel Morris MBE and Jeremy Hunt MP at the 2016 Games
The other photo shows Jeremy, Rachel and Erin Orford; International Para Dressage Rider with Children at the 2016 Games