Community Project of the Year Award Winners 2006 (Sponsored by Radio City and Alliance and Leicester)

Daisy UK can offer quality service with all awareness courses performed professionally with a fun and educational delivery. We offer a great opportunity for people who wish to become more aware of disability and social inclusion to widen their knowledge in the techniques and management of (young) people involved in physical activity, creating a safe and integrated environment which is beneficial for all.

Currently over 10 million people in the UK are disabled. Therefore, a large percentage of households in the UK will have someone or is closely related to a person with a disability.

Daisy UK (Disability Awareness Introducing Sport to Youngsters)’s concept has evolved out of a lack of understanding and awareness towards people with a disability.

Daisy’s ethos is that through sport and leisure and by using the medium of education, the barriers of discrimination can be broken down and sport can be played with an awareness of other people’s ability, disability and feelings thus creating a more unselfish and caring society. The need for an organization such as Daisy UK, has been highlighted by the closure of special needs schools for children with a disability and the integration of these children into mainstream schools.

The government’s Game Plan has highlighted obesity in young people as a major cause of concern and Daisy can confront this problem at grassroots level by giving all young people guidance and a pathway into sporting activities. This will benefit children with a disability, who may be more susceptible towards low fitness levels and obesity.

With the new Disability Discrimination Act now in place, it is important for schools, colleges and other organizations to realize the needs and accessibility of all users of their facilities. Every person, regardless of age, gender, religious beliefs or disability has the right to participate and reach their true potential in any sport or leisure activity of their choice.

As mentioned before with the closure of special needs schools and the integration of these children into mainstream schools, has sadly caused a variety of problems. Daisy UK’s main concern is the lack of awareness and understanding of inclusion into sport and physical activity for a youngster with a disability by the teaching staff. Many parents of children with a disability have commented on the lack of physical education at the children’s schools. While other children are participating in sport, keeping fit and having fun, some children may find themselves back in the classroom or observing from the sidelines. Daisy UK wishes to show teachers and staff how sports participation can be fully inclusive, educational and fun for all regardless of any disability or need. We realize the enormity of a fully inclusive sports curriculum for schools and colleges, but it is important to have some sports obtainable to all.

Through education, Daisy can alter the stereotypical thoughts and hopefully will endeavour to change people’s preconceived beliefs and with a little imagination and adaptation, sport and leisure can be fun for all.

What can Daisy UK offer?

Daisy UK can offer both disability and visual awareness courses for teachers, staff and volunteers at schools, colleges and other organisations.

We adapt our courses to suit the needs and requirements of the school, college or organisation. For example, a two hour visual or disability awareness through sports session consists of 45 minutes theory (focusing on different types of disability, barriers to sports participation, social stereotypes etc) and 75 minutes in the sports hall (focusing on different sporting activities and their adaptations for inclusion to create a level playing field). Please remember, these times can be flexible to suit your needs and requirements.

The packages can be delivered to any group no matter how small or large in number. To optimise individual involvement, a group size no larger than 30 is preferable. But even with a larger or smaller group, the benefits including education and awareness of disability through sport are of great importance giving a more knowledgeable understanding of these issues.

Daisy UK can offer quality service with all awareness courses performed professionally with a fun and educational delivery. We offer a great opportunity for all teachers and staff to widen their knowledge about disability and sport.