The ASA is one of 10 delivery partners that will be working with local partners over the next three years to get some of the UK’s least active people moving more.
Statistics continually show disabled people to be less active. However, the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) found in their Lifestyle Report 2013 that two thirds of disabled people want to take part with non-disabled people.
Launched on 1 October, GOGA is led by EFDS and funded by Spirit of 2012. As well as national sporting bodies, organisations including Volunteering Matters, Disability Rights UK, Sporting Equals and Age UK are also backing the programme. Working together, the partners aim to increase the number of people who are able to access and enjoy local opportunities.
Let’s Go Swimming is an important element of the Get Out Get Active programme. Lara Lill, Head of Health and Wellbeing at the ASA, said: “Swimming is a great form of exercise that also helps to create a sense of security and independence in water.
“We are working to create the right environment within leisure centres for everyone, including raising staff awareness, but most of all injecting the fun into physical activity through the sessions on offer.
“Let’s Go swimming is an approach we are adopting to bring partners together and to create an offer which is formed and promoted locally. GOGA is absolutely the right platform for us to engage with more disabled people and we look forward to working with EFDS and the local authorities involved.”
Debbie Lye, Chief Executive for Spirit of 2012 said: “We want to make getting active appealing, accessible, fun and inclusive for people of all ages and abilities. Spirit of 2012 is funding Get Out Get Active in response to overwhelming evidence that inactive people need encouragement and support to take those first steps into active, healthy lifestyles.”
Importantly, a large proportion of the investment is for monitoring and evaluation, assessing the impact and allowing for more organisations to learn from the outcomes.
For more information on Get Out and Get Active, visit www.efds.co.uk/GOGA
Source: swimming.org
