Sporting chance for disabled thanks to £100,000 grant

More than 100,000 from Sport England and the Football Foundation has been ploughed into the "Disability Sheffield – Opportunities in Sport for Disabled People" scheme.

It will be run by Sheffield Council in conjunction with the charity Within Reach, and aims to get disabled people involved in sport at all levels, from the grass roots to competing at elite standard.

The scheme will run for three years and focus on six sports – athletics, boccia, football, swimming, table tennis and wheelchair basketball.

Councillor Sylvia Dunkley, cabinet member for culture, sport and tourism at Sheffield Council, said: "This is really positive news and it means that the work the council already does on encouraging disabled people to be active and get involved in sport will continue and grow.

"As a city this is a fantastic opportunity for us to develop and strengthen sporting opportunities for disabled people, especially in the build up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"Encouraging more people in Sheffield to get involved in sport at whatever level, and creating ways for more people to participate in sport is a key focus for our work in making the most of the Games.

"I very much hope that local disabled people will get involved and make the most of the opportunities that this project will generate."

Formed in 1989, Within Reach currently runs a number of activities for disabled people in the city. One of the charity's most recent schemes involves working with the Sheffield Steelers Wheelchair Basketball club to set up a series of taster sessions in schools.

Anne Boyd, the regional lead for Yorkshire from Sport England, added: "The opportunity to try a new sport for the first time is often all a person needs to catch the sporting bug.

"The Disability Sheffield project is a great way for young people with disabilities to try new sports and have a quality sporting experience that will encourage them to stay involved."