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Engaging Wheelchair Participants in Sport

Event Details

Date

12 September | 24 October | 28 November | 19 December
Times may vary

Host

WheelPower | Louise Hunt-Skelley | Mark Bullock | Pete Edwards

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Introduction 

WheelPower is the national charity for wheelchair sport and its our mission to support disabled people of all ages to lead healthier and more active lives through movement, activity and sport.

We understand that there are many people in our community working with people with physical disabilities, and this short online course is here to give you the knowledge and confidence in your own organisations.  Time is precious which is why we have re-engineered this course content to make the very best of your limited time.

Upcoming Dates

  • Thursday 12 September – 10.00 – 12.30 (with Louise Hunt-Skelley)
  • Thursday 24 October – 10.00 – 12.30 (with Louise Hunt-Skelley)
  • Thursday 28 October – 09.30 – 12.00 (with Pete Edwards)
  • Thursday 19 December – 09.30 – 12.00 (with Pete Edwards)

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What’s new … 

  • The course is now split into two parts: a self-guided learning module to be completed in your own time, and a tutor led online course lasting approximately 2 hours.
  • The course scope is broader.  It now covers a much wider range of opportunities open to wheelchair users, and includes more practical session examples across a variety of sports.

“We know professionals are busy, but are  really keen to learn from us. So over the Summer we have re-engineered our existing course to cover a broader range of content in less time, drawing from the collective experience of the team at WheelPower” Ella Willott, WheelPower Partnership Development Manager

*NEW* Course Format

Will now take place in two parts. All attendees will be sent the link to the Online Training module upon signing up to the course and will be asked to complete this prior to attending the Tutor Led element.

  • Part 1: Self-Guided Learning Module (45 minutes to 1 hour) The module will allow learners to develop an understanding of how to include participants with spinal cord injury and other physical impairments in movement, sport, and activity. The module also covers thought-provoking topics such as barriers and opportunities to participation, use of appropriate language, and off-court considerations that could help to make a sport or activity more accessible and inclusive for all.
  • Part 2: Tutor Led Online Course via Zoom (Approx 2 hours) The tutor led course will be interactive, with break out room discussions and the opportunity to learn from the lived experiences of our tutor. The tutor will guide you through some ideas and examples of sports and activities that are inclusive and can be adapted for physical disabilities. The overall aim of the course is to enable learners to develop their confidence in working with and supporting physically disabled people to enjoy, participate and access sport, activity and movement opportunities.

Who is the course suitable for?

If you are a teacher, coach, sports student, physiotherapist, or occupational therapist striving to adapt your sports session for wheelchair participants, then this training is for you.

Future Opportunities

This course will enable you to support WheelPower in the delivery of programmes and events as well as other governing bodies, organisations and clubs that provide opportunities for disabled people to participate in wheelchair sport and physical activity.

After the course each participant will be provided with further support from WheelPower Sports Team should you have additional questions, or need us to help you make contact with organisations local to you.

Cost

This is a FREE course, but we would be grateful for a charitable donation to support WheelPower’s vital work (suggested donation £5) If you have any problems with making a donation please contact us using the details below.

Contact

If you have any questions about this course please contact the team via sport@wheelpower.org.uk

Training for Colleges/Universities and Groups 

As well as the public course WheelPower also works with teachers, students, coaches and employees to provide closed online courses for larger groups. To book an exclusive course for your college, university or group please email sport@wheelpower.org.uk

Louise Hunt-Skelley – Paralympian | Speaker | Mentor | Ambassador

Louise was born in 1991 with a disability called Spina Bifida. Spina Bifida is a developmental congenital disorder caused by the incomplete closing of the embryonic neural tube. Louise has therefore been in a wheelchair her whole life as she has little movement in her lower limbs.

At the age of 5 Louise began participating in many sports, swimming, basketball, fencing and soon discovered she had keen interests in Wheelchair Tennis and Wheelchair Racing. Louise Won 7 out of 10 London Mini Wheelchair Marathons which is an un-official World Record. Alongside this she was also playing Tennis and soon realised this was her real passion. Louise has been playing and competing in Wheelchair Tennis ever since, and in 2012 competed in her first Paralympic Games in London which was a dream come true. Louise also competed in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, qualifying at her highest ever ranking to date of 10 in the World.

In the summer of 2021 Louise decided to retire from competitive sport after achieving and exceeding all goals she had made herself in her athletic career. She is now self employed working across various roles, such as Commentary, Mentoring, Public peaking, Support work and Consultancy. Alongside this work she is still maintaining her Ambassador roles for local and national charities which are very close to her heart.

www.louisehunt.co.uk

Mark Bullock – Inclusive Sports Development Advisor | Coach | Tutor | Mentor 

Mark has more than 30 years experience in Paralympic/disability sport, sports development & the broader social impact of sport. He is passionate about diversity and inclusion, wellbeing, healthy lifestyles & nutrition. He is an experienced leader, manager, coach and now a consultant working with a number of organisations to promote and develop inclusive sport. He has travelled to more than 80 countries developing wheelchair tennis & attended four Paralympic Games & two Olympics in various capacities from coach to Technical Delegate.   He has worked at all levels of disability and inclusive sport as a coach, administrator and leader.

He has extensive experience of delivering award winning sports programmes in developing countries. He also managed the largest public tennis centre in the UK and delivered community tennis programmes in two cities. Mark is an experienced public speaker having spoken at numerous conferences all over the world. He is a member of the University of Nottingham Sports Board & is also a mentor to current students and has won several awards from the University.

He was a member of International Paralympic Committee Paralympic Games Committee & was a regular delegate to the IPC Sports Council and General Assembly over a number of years. He now writes a regular blog on inclusive with sport & physical activity being the central theme. Mark is active himself playing football, tennis, running and practicing yoga.

He is a pioneer in inclusive sport and is always seeking to find ways to increase opportunities for disabled people to participate in sport.  He was one of the first coaches to get involved in wheelchair tennis and now he is at the forefront of developments of blind tennis and tennis for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

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