December 15, 2010 2.25 pm This story is over 167 months old

Kids play wheelchair sports for awareness

Understanding: Able-bodied children from William Farr School learnt what it was like to play sport in a wheelchair.

Pupils at William Farr C of E School in Welton took part in wheelchair basketball as part of a disability awareness day.

Coach Hugh Sargent delivered sessions to over 30 pupils from the school aged 11 and 12, teaching them to play wheelchair basketball.

The aim of the exercise was for pupils to gain respect and understanding of the issues that being a wheelchair user causes.

The event was part of Lincolnshire Sports Partnership’s Wheelchair Sports Programme, who provided wheelchairs for the day.

Jack Miles and Georgia Willerton in Year 7 were two of the pupils who took part. They were both excited to take part in wheelchair sports.

Jack said: “I learnt that wheelchair basketball looks easy but is actually really hard!

“This session has opened my eyes to living in a wheelchair with all the hard navigating around; it was an amazing session.”

Georgia said: “I have enjoyed playing wheelchair basketball for the first time. I was surprised by how quickly we all caught on with the wheelchairs.

“My favourite thing about the lesson was that it was educational and fun.”

Ian Brown is the Equality and Diversity Officer at Lincolnshire Sports Partnership, and manages the Lincolnshire Wheelchair Sports Programme.

He said: “Children who have taken part have said how wheelchair sports has enabled them to join in fully with their PE lessons and play sports with their classmates, peers, siblings and parents.”

Source: Lincolnshire Sports Partnership