The official launch of the GOGA Project in the Forth Valley was held on Monday 20th February 2017 at the Stirling Albert Hall. The Forth Valley Launch was held on the same night as the Forth Valley Disability Sport AGM and Awards evening in front of Forth Valley’s three local authority Provosts, local and national partners representatives and FVDS participants, supporters, coaches, volunteers and family members. During the regional GOGA launch attendees were shown a short video explaining the back ground of GOGA and project main areas of development over the next three years. Please see below link to our website where the Forth Valley GOGA launch video can be viewed, www.fvds.org.uk
The project’s main focus will work around the physical activities of Walking, Cycling and Swimming and will implement research undertaken at Stirling University on FVDS’s intake and will look at improving FVDS gender balance. However through engaging many new individuals, partners and organisations we will hope to see an increase in both male and female participation numbers. The project will involve improving existing activities and developing new provision to support the needs of our participants.
From the start of the project FVDS will be looking at recruiting a new bank of volunteers during the project and will provide training for all volunteers to upskill and improve their knowledge and understanding of the needs of people with and without a disability and the ways of engaging both groups together.
GOGA is funded by Spirit of 2012 and driven by a consortium of 18 UK wide local partners and 15 national partners. The lead organisation in Scotland is Scottish Disability Sport. In this project FVDS will work with many partner organisations including Scottish Disability Sport, Stirling Council, Clackmannanshire Council, Falkirk Council, sportscotland, Active Stirling, Falkirk Community Trust, NHS Forth Valley, Forth Valley College, University of Stirling, Women in Sport, 2e-volve, local community clubs and classes, support agencies, Blazing Saddles, Paths For All, Braveheart and Scottish Swimming. From the project, partnerships will have strengthened and FVDS work will be recognised by partners. Good practice and learning from this project can be circulated around Scottish Disability Sport Branches, local authorities and other organisations.
Graham Harvey, FVDS Branch Coordinator, said:
“The Get Out Get Active project will give Forth Valley Disability Sport the chance to grow and strengthen the opportunities the charity provides to engage new participants from our hardest to reach groups, as well as bringing individuals with and without disabilities together.”
For more information please do not hesitate to contact FVDS GOGA Lead Officer Eva Finlayson by email on: goga@fvds.org.uk or Info@fvds.org.uk
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