Stoke Mandeville Stadium, the home of British Wheelchair Sport has launched a brand new facility designed to unite education with disability sports.
The Stoke Mandeville Institute of Sport and Education is a partnership between Leisure Connection, WheelPower, Bucks New University and Bucks and Milton Keynes Sports Partnership and will provide a unique programme of sports, education and training opportunities for disabled people and those working in disability sport.
The aim of the institute is to enable disabled people to become involved in sport as athletes, coaches, administrators or officials and to increase the number of qualified coaches, officials, volunteers and classifiers available within sport. It is hoped the new facility will contribute to the legacy of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Andrew Marshall, Managing Director of Leisure Connection, which manages Stoke Mandeville Stadium on behalf of WheelPower said: "We are proud to be a partner in this project which promises to open many doors for those passionate about inclusive sports, and encourage newly disabled people that there are plenty of opportunities out there for them within disability sport. We will continue to devote resources and provide help to ensure its success."
Educational courses will be delivered at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, some of which will be technology based, enabling students to attend courses ‘virtually’. Professor Chris Kemp, Executive Dean for the Faculty of Enterprise and Innovation at Bucks New University, commented: "Bucks is one of the first universities to become directly involved with disability sport and this progressive pathway of sports education is unique. The partnership combines a ‘new’ university linked to Stoke Mandeville Stadium, and by working in partnership, Bucks New University will be able to contribute to a more coordinated and effective delivery system for disability sports education."
As the National Centre for Disability Sport, Stoke Mandeville Stadium is an inspiring venue which provides a high quality, fully accessible site incorporating numerous sports facilities alongside conferencing, training and accommodation capabilities, making it an ideal venue for education and training in disability sport.
Martin McElhatton, Chief Executive of WheelPower, said: "Through the wonderful opportunities this new Institute will create, disabled people and those who want to get involved in disability sport will be able to enhance their skills. The Institute will support sports bodies to develop their workforce and provide an educational pathway from NVQs up to degree level courses. Our unique partnership brings together experience from the educational, commercial and sports sectors and aims to leave a lasting legacy in sport and education."
As one of the nationwide network of County Sports Partnerships, the Bucks & Milton Keynes Sports Partnership has a key role to play in supporting the new Institute by helping to link to a range of networks, identify needs and communicate the Institute's offer. Lee Mason, Director of the Partnership, who also works on behalf of the national CSP Network, commented: "This innovative proposal provides an opportunity to really use the power of the London 2012 Paralympic Games and the inspirational Stoke Mandeville Stadium to create a step change in disability sport through a more comprehensive, coordinated and quality assured education programme, with an emphasis on practical training and the opportunity for hands on experience and mentoring support."
Courses scheduled to be offered at the Institute this year include: An Introduction to Disability Sport; Running Sport: A Club For All; Certificate in Sports Leadership; and Wheelchair Basketball Grade 1 Coaching Assistant. If you are interested in arranging or undertaking disability sports education, please contact
info@smise.org.uk or visit
www.smise.org.uk .
