Leisure Services for People with Disabilities
Disability Concession Cards
A concession rate entry to our leisure facilities is available for people with a disability, who are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance. For more information please click here. (Link to Concession Card Page)
Inclusive Fitness Initiative
Craigavon Leisure Centre, Disability Sport NI and CBC Sports Development are currently implementing some changes to the fitness equipment, signage, marketing and staff training within Craigavon Leisure Centre, aiming for accreditation through the Inclusive Fitness Initiative. A new development officer will also be appointed to increase activity levels of people with a disability in the Craigavon area. It is our aim that the centre will gain accreditation in Autumn 2010. This work has been made possible by funding from Sport NI through their Building Sport Programme.
Active Communities
Active Communities is a new programme, launched by Sport NI, to employ quality, experienced coaches across Northern Ireland. The Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon Consortium will have 10 coaches delivering the sports detailed below aiming to increase participation by under-represented groups including females, over 50s and people with a disability.
- Multi Skills and Disability
- Physical Activity e.g. Aerobics, Boxercise
- Dance
- Volleyball
- Girls Soccer
- Gaelic Football
- Athletics
- Outdoor Pursuits
- Badminton
This programme creates real opportunities for disability groups and individuals with a disability to access quality, fun coaching. This is expected to be a 5 year programme. For more information please contact Nicola Tedford 028 3832 2205.
Recreation Development
A number of changes have been made in the last few years to improve access to outdoor recreation for people with a disability, for example:
- Accessible Fishing Stands are now located at:
– Craigavon Lakes
– Bann Boulevard Towpath
– Lurgan Park (Car access available, speak to Park Rangers)
- Gate Changes at Bann Boulevard Towpath to accommodate Hand Cyclists
- Mobility Scooters are available at:
– Lough Neagh Discovery Centre
– Lurgan Park
– Craigavon Watersports Centre
- An Outdoor Recreation Directory is being developed detailing information about all outdoor recreation opportunities and will include information about disabled access.
For more information about Outdoor Recreation contact: Tara Love 028 3832 2205
Craigavon Watersports Centre
Activities include: banana boating, water-skiing, windsurfing, sailing, canoeing, mountain biking, climbing wall, orienteering.
The Centre is fully accessible and a range of equipment ensures many of the activities are inclusive of people with a range of disabilities. Accessible equipment includes:
– Hoist
– Tandem Bikes and Trikes
– ‘Sit On’ Canoes
– Specialist Sailing Boat
Inclusive Sailing and Canoe Clubs operate from the centre.
For more information contact: 028 3834 2669
Craigavon Golf Ski Centre
The outdoor artificial ski slope caters for skiing, snowboarding and snowtubing. Golf facilities include three courses, a floodlit driving range and putting green.
The centre has fully qualified instructors who are experienced in delivering activities to people with disabilities.
The Ski-Ability Club and Birdies Golf Club both operate at the centre.
For more information contact: 028 3832 6606
Sports Development
The Community Sport Development Team target a range of under represented groups, including people with a disability. The following are just a few examples of the types of programmes that have been developed for people with a disability over the last few years.
- Gotcha Boccia – monthly pan disability league (adapted seated bowls activity)
- Disability Outreach – 6 week inclusive games sessions delivered in community settings to people with a range of disabilities
- Shine Disability Summer Scheme – in partnership with Mencap, 35+ children attend to participate in a wide range of activities including, volleyball, swimming, football, dance, athletics, arts and crafts
- MS Activity Group – delivered in partnership with the Southern Health and Social Care Trust Physiotherapy Department, this was a condition management programme based in a leisure centre, promoting physical activity as a means of maintaining activity levels and movement in a non clinical environment
- Fit 4 Life – a one to one gym based programme for adults with a disability, to promote independent long term exercise
- Vote Project Disability Programme – a weekly activity day as part of the Vote Projects ongoing programme, the young people participated in almost any sport they could think of
- Mental Health Activity Programmes - clients attending mental health support groups have participated in programmes in the following activities: Golf, Archery, Cycling, Chair Based Exercise, Inclusive Games
Most of our programmes are developed in partnership with a range of other agencies. For more information about any of our programmes or to find out how to get involved, contact the Community Sport Office: 028 3831 6813
SLUG
Craigavon Sport and Leisure Users Group has the objective of getting people who have a disability interested and involved in sport and leisure. Meeting for a number of years, SLUG has recently become constituted, and is made up of individuals with a disability, members of local disability organizations as well as advisors from Craigavon Borough Council, and the Southern Health and Social Care Trust.
Last year the group made a successful bid to the Awards for All Fund and received £5,995 to run a series of sport & physical activity programmes, for example the ‘Get Active Day’ at Craigavon Leisure Centre when approximately 100 disabled people from local Day Centres, Special Schools and Community and Voluntary Groups participated in a wide range of activities.
SLUG’s Aims:
- A platform for views
- Planning group
- Raise comments and concerns
- Partnership approach
- Disseminate local information
For more information contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
