Access Sport is a charity which aim to engage and develop disadvantaged young people, using sport as an anchor for change.

 

The Ignite programme was set up in 2011, and is funded by our partners Sport England and the BT Supporters Club. It aims to effectively engage young disabled people with local sporting opportunities, to enable them to experience the power of sport!

 

The Ignite Programme supports local volunteer-led community clubs to develop inclusive sections. We provide training, club development support and expertise knowledge to encourage community clubs to open their doors to disabled people.

​

"Thanks to O3e our clubs have been fortunate enough to receive high quality sport equipment, including sports wheelchairs and trikes. This equipment has allowed multiple clubs to cater for a greater number of disabled people with a wider range of physical disabilities"

​

​

Flyerz hockey was first introduced in 2011 through Waltham Forest Hockey Club. The term ‘Flyerz hockey’ quickly replaced ‘disability hockey’ as Flyerz is something the members were proud to belong to. It gives a sense of community and a positive term for disability hockey across England.

 

St Albans Hockey Club started Flyerz hockey in 2015 in partnership with Access Sport. The club now runs regular outreach sessions to Oaklands College disabled students and a monthly club session.

​

Flyerz is expanding all the time, so wheelchair donations are incredibly important.

 

​

Highgate Tennis Club partnered with Access Sport in 2016, to build upon their thriving Visually Impaired tennis sessions. Highgate Tennis were keen to open their doors to the wider disabled community, including those with physical impairments. The club have recently been delivering outreach sessions to local schools and groups, with club sessions launching last month to the wider community. It is early days for Highgate Tennis Club but it is hoped that they can develop into a hub for a wide range of disability tennis.

​

​

Wingz BMX is a thriving initiative embedded within Access Sport’s award-winning BMX Legacy Programme, giving young disabled people the opportunity to experience the thrill and freedom of cycling. With passionate coaches in place, and the use of trikes, striders, mountain and BMX bikes – no young person is turned away!

 

Trikes are an excellent tool for teaching young people to learn to ride a bike. They provide an excellent stepping stone into cycling on a two-wheeled bike and also offer an alternative to young people who are unable to learn to ride a two-wheeled bike. Peter, one of our Wingz riders, started on a trike to build his confidence up to learning to ride a two-wheeled bike:

​

“In teaching Peter to cycle you have given him a great gift, which will have positive implications for the rest of his life in terms of his health, fitness, confidence and ability to really stick at a challenge. It also opens up opportunities for us to enjoy doing something together as a family.”