YMCA South, Active Southland and Inclusive Activity Murihiku are teaming up on a two-year initiative that will have a long-term impact for Southland children and young people with disabilities.
The project has been supported by Sport New Zealand’s Disability Inclusion Fund and is designed to support children and young people with disabilities to participate in sport and active recreation, have fun with their peers and be connected to their community.
Taking a collaborative approach, the organisations will be working towards creating more and better opportunities in sport and active recreation for young people with disabilities, as well as strengthening leadership, advocacy, capability and capacity across the sector which will lead to long-term impact.
YMCA South Chief Executive Vanessa Hughey says the initiative is exciting for the whole community.
“It’s all about ensuring sport and active recreation in Southland is truly inclusive, that we are providing quality and quantity of opportunities for young people with disabilities, that we have capable workforces to deliver this and that there is a wider system that supports this with a long-term view,” she said.
New and better opportunities across both sport and active recreation would be co-designed alongside children and young people with disabilities and their families.
Ms Hughey says the collaborative approach highlights the depth of the initiative.
“With a combined approach from YMCA South, Active Southland and Inclusive Murihiku Southland, we can work across a wider spectrum than one organisation alone, with each organisation having different strengths, whether it be in designing and delivering programmes or opportunities, or working in that leadership and capability space.”
“We are confident this initiative will have a long-term impact for children and young people with disabilities and we’re really excited about its potential.”
The Southland programme was one of 16 national and regional organisations to receive funding through the Disability Inclusion Fund.
“The Disability Inclusion Fund aims to improve the range and quality of physical activity on offer for disabled young people and build greater capability across the sector to create a more inclusive sector,” Minister for Sport and Recreation Grant Robertson said.
The overall $3.6 million investment will support the expansion of proven programmes, as well as the development of innovative new ones. Many of the fund’s recipients are existing Sport NZ partners who are receiving specific disability funding for the first time, while some recipients will receive direct funding from Sport NZ for the first time.
There was considerable interest in the fund, with applications received from 68 organisations.