New Funding for Disability Sport

The Government plans to change the lives of 10 million disabled people in the UK by ploughing £3.5m into disability sport. Tessa Jowell, minister for the Olympics and Paralympics, launched the Disability Legacy Plan in March this year, an ambitious strategy to use the 2012 games as a springboard to integrate disabled people more fully into society.

Endorsed by the International Paralympics Committee (IPC), London 2012: A Legacy for Disabled People, aims to improve the lives of 10 million disabled people in the UK by increasing participation in sport and physical activity; improving business, transport and employment opportunities; and changing attitudes and perceptions of disabled people in society.

Sport England has given sport for disabled people a further boost by announcing that it is investing £1.5 million of Exchequer funding in the English Federation of Disability Sport, to help them deliver a new strategy to increase participation and opportunities for disabled people.

They have also announced that they will be making £2 million of targeted National Lottery funding available, by application, to nine disability sports organisations including British Blind Sport, Mencap Sport, Wheelpower and the Special Olympics.

Tessa Jowell said: “We want the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to showcase a Britain without barriers. By working to increase sports participation, improve employment opportunities amongst disabled people and develop a greater appreciation of disability issues in society, our legacy plan for disabled people aims to make a real difference to the way disabled people live their lives every day.