CHESHIRE Phoenix Wheelchair Basketball Club have rolled out their brand new programme aimed to get more people than ever involved in the sport.
The Club's first Inspire a Generation (IAG) session was held at Ellesmere Port Sport Village on Saturday, April 15. Sessions are open to anyone over the age of seven, as long as they are able to self-propel a wheelchair, ensuring that it is one of the most inclusive sports for people with an without disabilities to take part in together.
Each IAG session not only allows more to try the sport but the programme also allows individuals to try coaching through training to become an ‘Activator’.
The aim for the new rollout is to deliver a relaxed atmosphere that also has inclusivity, enjoyment, and accessibility at the heart of every session.
Head Coach of Cheshire Phoenix Wheelchair Basketball Club and British Wheelchair Basketball Tutor, AJ Jackson explains: "I was keen to give players the opportunity to start their coaching journeys and become an Activator.
"Our main aim is that people get the chance to try Wheelchair Basketball - anyone aged 7 and upwards with or without a disability can come and join in, and that includes siblings, children or parents and family members too. Sometimes we find this is the first time a family or siblings have played a sport together."
Driven by British Wheelchair Basketball, the Inspire a Generation Programme is supported by £1.5m of funding from Sport England. The ground-breaking initiative was launched in 2020 and designed to engage an inactive population through informal, fun, inclusive and enjoyable opportunities to for both disabled and able-bodied individuals to play the sport.
So far, 216 Community Activators across the country are delivering sessions through partnerships to 739 participants.
AJ adds: "It allows our club to be part of a national scheme, gaining publicity for the sport and the club across the country and locally. We are proud of our club and the more schemes we can get involved in, the more people we can attract to the club and the wider sport.
"For new players it is an ideal way to try the sport - at Phoenix we have a team of coaches at the sessions which allows us to cater for all ages and abilities and really focus on the players. It also allows us to feed appropriate players into our more structured and busy club sessions, without them having that pressure initially."
To find out more about Cheshire Phoenix' Inspire a Generation sessions, contact: phoenixwbc@yahoo.co.uk. Sports wheelchairs will be provided.
To find out more about the Inspire a Generation programme or to become a Community Activator, visit www.inspireageneration.com.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here