Inspiring new participants

BRITISH Wheelchair Basketball has announced a third recruitment drive for Local Delivery Partners as part of its new Inspire a Generation programme.

The ground-breaking initiative has received over £1.5m of funding from the National Lottery and Sport England and aims to double participation in the sport over the next five years. The programme has been designed to support disabled participants find or return to physical activity, many of whom have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The taster sessions take place over six weeks and provide a fun and engaging introduction to the sport.

The Inspire a Generation programme is supported by four National Delivery Partners; StreetGames, WheelPower, Whizz-Kidz and UK Coaching, and an extensive network of Local Delivery Partners who have joined the intitive since its launch in January. All partners have been central to the identification of Community Activators within their own organisations and networks, and the delivery of the Inspire a Generation wheelchair basketball taster sessions in communities across England.

The five-year programme recruited its first cohort of Community Activators, across 17 different delivery partners in March 2021. These trained Community Activators are now delivering Inspire a Generation wheelchair basketball courses for communities within nine different regions across England. The third round of recruitment has now opened, to deliver new waves of community Inspire a Generation courses available across England throughout the next four years. These individuals and organisations will receive all the necessary training delivered by British Wheelchair Basketball.

Discussing the latest recruitment drive, Lisa Pearce Chief Executive at British Wheelchair Basketball said:

“The spotlight on the sport during the Paralympic Games has seen more people wanting to try the sport it’s a perfect time to open a new public recruitment wave and encourage new local partners to sign up.”