Bedford International Athletics Stadium

Special Sessions

From the perspective of Stadium development, a number of special needs initiatives have been developed. These include a special needs weight training sessions that used to be held at the Stadium. Unfortunately due to staffing issues this is now based at another DSD site.

Wheelchair bowls, bowling for people with sight impairment and SOLD (Sporting opportunities for Learning Difficulties) project groups based at the Bedford Sports and Hockey Centre.

50+ groups are held twice a week, Adult training centre groups that use the facility for Sports sessions, Education groups for children with behavioural problems and children excluded from school, a Sport England initiative for multi-activities for children with disabilities and many more sessions are also available.

The British Blind Sports Association have held training events and competitions here and the Stadium has been personally commended on facility design with respect to the colour schemes etc as it is very conducive to the requirement of this particular organisation (i.e. brightly coloured).

An athletics championships is held annually for mentally and physically disadvantaged individuals. This is principally run in conjunction with the adult training centre and provides a very rewarding day for both staff and participants alike.

The Stadium has also been linked to a sports festival initiative organised as a county development for FYD (friends for the young deaf). This was spear headed from the Stadium facility however did not unfortunately did not enjoy an immense amount of support. Further initiatives are hopefully going to be developed from this.

The Disability Sports Zone Club 

Present

The “Bedford Sports Zone” was initially set up as a partnership between Bedford Borough Council Sports Development Unit, The Bedford International Athletic Stadium, Active Sports, Inclusive Fitness Initiative and The Community Sports Coach Scheme.

The aim of the club has been to provide a monthly physical activity club for young people of the age 8 – 16 years old.  Each month has hosted a guest sport supported through the Active Sports Partnership.  The cost for each session is £2

The initial pilot project has run for 6 months

Success of the Club?

The club currently has 25 young people registered with the club with a regular attendance of 14 members each month.  All partners feel it has been beneficial and would like to see the continuation of the club.

Future

The Bedford Disability Sports Zone Club are now in a position where funding needs to be applied for.  Awards 4 All funding has been suggested as an obvious avenue of funding.

Awards 4 All have advised that it will not be possible for the local authority to apply for funding.  It was suggested that in order to apply for funding a committee, with a back account, constitution and terms of reference will need to be set up.

It is important that members of this committee are members of the community and not of the local authority (although it is possible for local authority members to support).

So why not come along and support the local community.

Produced by the IT Unit
Economic Development and Regeneration Group