Disability Sports Development
Programmes and Sessions
Sport and physical activity improves physical fitness. Additionally, sport and physical activity has been linked to improvements in self-confidence, social awareness and self-esteem and can also contribute to the empowerment of disabled people.
Sports Services offer a wide range of disability specific and adapted mainstream sport and leisure programmes for children, young people and adults. Our sessions take place in Sports Centres and Pools across Calderdale and within other Community settings.
Activities for children and young people age 6 – 19
Saturday Training & Development
To see what is on, please read: 
Disability Sports programme.
Inclusive PE & Sport Programme
Barriers to participation are addressed and appropriate methods of inclusion are introduced to enhance sport and PE opportunities. We do this by working with PE teachers and school support staff, in mainstream and special school education. This is for SEND children and young people.
Post-18 Disability Sport Development
We work closely with statutory, third sector and regional partners. Our main aim is to establish sport and leisure opportunities, to enable people with varying disabilities to be ‘active for life’.
Links with local voluntary sports clubs and groups have promoted the inclusion of disabled people in a mainstream setting. We offer structured coaching sessions in ‘sports specific’ clubs throughout Calderdale.
Disability Swimming Lessons
The lessons are for children and young people aged 5 – 18 years. These are led by appropriately trained instructors.
Delivery and session times
Monday
- 6.30 – 7pm at Brighouse Pool & Fitness Centre.
- 5 – 5.30pm (non-swimmers) and 5.30 – 6pm (improvers) at Halifax pool.
Jam Packed Summer
A 4 week summer scheme for disabled young people aged 8-19 years. Based at Ravenscliffe High School, the team of sports coaches have full access to all sport and leisure areas (excluding the swimming pool) The internal layout and provision of equipment, including required auxiliary aids within the school, ensures that all disabled young people wishing to attend the programme will be fully accommodated.
Delivery and session times
Monday/Tuesday 9am – 3pm for 8 – 11 years olds.
Wednesday/Thursday 9am – 3pm for 12 – 15 years olds.
Friday 9am – 4pm for 16 – 19 years.
At Ravenscliffe High School
Greetland Goldstars – Disability Football Programme
Weekly indoor football coaching sessions at Shaw Lodge Mill 3gi complex.
Delivered by qualified football coaches from Greetland Goldstars FC. They provide coaching and participation opportunities for young people covering two age ranges aged 7 – 12 years and 12 – 16 years.
Delivery and session times
Saturdays 11am – 12noon at Shaw Lodge Mill 3gi Complex.
‘Gifted and Talented’ Disability Sports Programme (formerly Calderdale Cougars)
Participation and specialist coaching delivered in established disability sport programmes such as ‘Sports Zone’ along with PE and disability sports development within schools has resulted in children and young people developing their sport and leisure skills in sports specific activities. With a view to further developing, attracting new participants and sustaining involvement, weekly athletics related sessions, including wheelchair racing will be delivered by qualified sports coaches. Throughout programme delivery, regional participation and coaching opportunities will be identified maximising the potential of the young people attending.
Delivery and session times
Thursdays 4 – 5pm at North Bridge Leisure Centre (term time only).
Wheelchair Sports Programme
Enabling children and young people to experience, participate and receive coaching using ‘specialist’ disability sport equipment. Regular coaching sessions are delivered at various venues providing opportunities for skills and techniques relative to a selection wheelchair sport activities.
Participation by children and young people will also assist in increasing confidence and enable them to participate in wheelchair specific and generic sport and leisure activities.
Delivery and session times
Sessions take place at various venues.
Athletics – Halifax Harriers
Halifax Harriers Athletics Club is a mainstream club who have ‘disport’ section within the club. Children and young people who would like to join the club will receive coaching and instruction from qualified coaches in various athletic disciplines whilst being fully included in the overall operation of the sports club.
Delivery and session times
Tuesdays and Thursdays 7 – 8.30pm at Spring Hall Sports Facility.
Trampoline Sessions
A popular activity experienced by children and young people within our regular generic programmes. An ‘out of school’ programme commencing in June 2016 will enable children and young people to participate in regular trampoline coaching sessions.
Delivery and session times
Thursdays 4 – 6 pm (half hour sessions) at North Bridge Leisure Centre.
‘Fun Swim’ Sessions
As part of the overall swimming development programme in Calderdale, we have two disability specific swimming lesson programmes running at Halifax Pool and Brighouse Pool & Fitness Centre. With a view to supporting these programmes, we are planning to deliver ‘fun swim’ sessions for disabled children and young people with the main aim of building water confidence in the water prior to young people progressing to their involvement in the structured swimming lesson scheme.
Delivery and session times
Sessions will take place at Brighouse and Sowerby Bridge Pool & Fitness centres on a Sunday afternoon.
Activities for adults
Adult Disability Swimming Sessions
Taking place in the teaching pool, weekly swimming sessions take place with a qualified instructor.
Delivery and session times
7.30 – 8.30pm at Halifax Pool.
Multi-sport Options
Working with internal and regional partners, disability sport, mainstream sport and leisure options are regularly evolving.
The Disability Sport Programme will be responsive to the progression and development and demand for different activities.
Projected extra activities may include:
- cycling (including the National Bikeability Programme);
- snow tubing;
- additional ‘extra-curricular’ coaching;
- and working with National Governing Bodies of sports, to identify further ‘sports specific’ opportunities.
More information
If you want to know more about any of the programmes and sessions, please contact:
Debbie.Greenwood@calderdale.gov.uk sportsdevelopment@calderdale.gov.uk
01422 341527.