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Sport for Everyone

The Liverpool Echo reports on the new Embrace charity running at school

Article from the Liverpool Echo 29/01/13

A merseyside Boccia playersschool has launched a charity to ensure disabled pupils can have access to a raft of sports.

Wirral secondary The Mosslands is behind the initiative which as well as raising money for specialist sports wheelchairs aims to raise awareness of disability sports across the borough.

Its Mosslands Embrace Charity – has been launched on the back of the successful 2012 Paralympics.

At its heart is a desire to raise enough money to purchase six specialist sports wheelchairs.

The school’s roll includes pupils with varying disabilities.

And it is bidding to enhance its sports facilities and also encourage able-bodied pupils to participate in sports with their fellow pupils.

Learning resource assistant Tom Keggin who is leading the charity alongside colleague Lesley Cubbin said: “We are an inclusive school and felt that we wanted to offer more sports to our pupils with special education needs.

“We already have assistants in PE lessons who help the boys to take part, but knew that we could do more, not just with better facilities but through days out and sports trips.

“Last term a group of our pupils enjoyed a trip to The Oval Leisure Centre in Bebington for a Paralympics Day with other schools from the North West, with sports such as boccia, wheelchair basketball and new age kurling.

“After this we decided to launch the charity to get more suitable sports wheelchairs for students, and to try and involve the whole school in the campaign.”

The special sports wheelchairs cost £500 each and are much lighter and faster than standard electric wheelchairs. Mr Keggin added: “They will really enhance our disabled pupils’ experience and participation in both PE and extra-curricular sports.”

The charity has secured part-funding from the Sylvia Adams Charitable Trust and are now working hard to match this.

Pupil-led fundraising events such as cake sales and non-uniform days are already under way and another Paralympics Day for Wirral schools is being organised with Wallasey Rotary Club.