Parasport powered by Toyota, an online hub to empower disabled people to become more active, has launched a new £250,000 UK fund. An element of the funding has been allocated to provide disability inclusion training for club coaches and volunteers across Scotland.
The new Toyota Parasport fund opens today and will be delivered in partnership with the British Paralympic Association, Sport England, Sport Northern Ireland, Disability Sport Wales and Scottish Disability Sport.
This exciting new opportunity means training will be rolled out through SDS Branches to support coaches and volunteers to improve the quality and quantity of activities available to disabled people.
The new UK-wide funding programme has the backing of ParalympicsGB athletes including multiple Paralympic swimming gold medallist Bethany Firth from Northern Ireland. Prior to starting swimming lessons as a pupil at Longstone Special School, Bethany had a fear of water, having fallen into a pool as a four-year-old on holiday in Australia.
Bethany said: ““The new Toyota Parasport Fund will help more people run inclusive activities so more disabled people can benefit from getting active in the way I have.”
“Learning to swim and trying something new really gave me confidence and it helped me make new friends. Swimming has broadened my horizons, allowing me to travel and it has basically changed who I am.
“You don’t have to want to be a Paralympian there are huge benefits to becoming more active whether its physical and mental wellbeing, building confidence or making new friends.”
Parasport was launched in March 2019 and already has more than 1,600 activity providers offering disabled people the
opportunities to become more active through Parasport.org.uk, which creates a vibrant community for people to share their experiences and become advocates for the benefits of being more active.
Parasport empowers disabled people and their networks by providing the information, inspiration and confidence they need to become active.
Andrew Cullis, Toyota GB Marketing Director said: “We are extremely proud to launch the Toyota Parasport Fund as the next step in our support of inclusive sport and activity in the UK.
“Alongside our partners from Sport England, Sport Northern Ireland, Disability Sport Wales and Scottish Disability Sport, we have a fantastic opportunity to improve the options available to disabled people to get active and make a lasting impact on the grassroots landscape.”
Mike Sharrock, Chief Executive at the British Paralympic Association said: “Thanks to the launch of the Toyota 
Parasport Fund we are delighted to offer training to coaches and volunteers to further improve the opportunities to disabled people.
“Parasport is a crucial part of helping us to deliver our vision: through sport, inspire a better world for disabled people. It enables us to highlight the wide range of opportunities available for disabled people and will help improve the experience of disabled people taking part in physical activity across the country and will be a welcome boost to the array of activity providers registered with Parasport.”
The training aims to improve the quality and quantity of sport and activities available to disabled people. To register interest in attending a workshop, please complete the form below.
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