Play Unified, Coaching Training opportunities for Athletes & much more ðŸ‚

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Welcome

Dear <<First Name>>,

Welcome to the first edition of the Sports and Development Newsletter for 2016. We hope you are looking forward to an exciting year!

An important reminder that our AGM and Leadership Conference is taking place on 26-28 February at the Park Inn Heathrow. If you haven't already signed up to attend, please email Peju Oriunuta.

This year we have welcomed a new member of staff to the Sports and Development Team. Jo Meecham has joined us from British Gymnastics as Partnership Manager, replacing Jenny Morris who has moved on to pastures new at British Universities and Colleges Sport. Jo is initially focusing on the London development project and will also be working to establish new partnership networks in priority areas of the country.

Please read below to ensure you do not miss out on some important updates!

Best wishes,

Andy Heffer
Director of Sports & Development

A Sustainable Future for the East Midlands

The East Midlands Region over the past year, has undergone significant development to support the growth and sustainability of its Special Olympics activity. It means that now the complete Region is covered by accredited Special Olympics activity and in theory, anyone with an intellectual (learning) disability in the Region, should be able to access Special Olympics activity.

Click here to learn more

Learning Disability Tennis Camps

The Tennis Foundation runs subsidised learning disability tennis camps nationwide aimed at players who are beginners/new to sport or those looking to develop their skills in a fun and social environment.

The one day camps are led by experienced tennis coaches who will cover the following during the day:

Warm up
Groundstrokes
Serving
Fun games and informal competition

A the end of the camp the coaches will signpost participants to their nearest regular tennis sessions where they can continue to play the sport.

To book a place on a learning disability tennis camp near you please click on the register here button below.

Creating a Unified Generation with Play Unified

In 2014 Special Olympics launched a new global campaign aimed at encouraging people of all abilities to #PlayUnified to create the world's first Unified Generation.

Special Olympics Great Britain, in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust, an independent charity devoted to changing young people’s lives through sport, will work over the next two years with 200 secondary mainstream and special needs schools to support teams of Young Ambassadors to design and deliver inclusive projects in their schools.

Further information will follow at the forthcoming AGM and Leadership Conference; including the names and locations of those schools involved, and how you can get involved.

If you currently work within schools that you think might be interested in this opportunity, please encourage them to express their interest in becoming involved via this link.

For further information please visit www.playunified.org

Table Tennis Coaching Opportunity

Table Tennis England are looking to support Special Olympics GB athletes with their development and as a result, have an exciting opportunity to fund a small number of people with an intellectual disability to gain a table tennis coaching qualification.

If you know someone with an intellectual (learning) disability who has an interest in becoming a Level 1 table tennis coach, or if they are an existing level 1 coach looking to progress to a Level 2 then we would love to hear from you.

Please contact Steve McFadyen (Clubs & Disability Manager, Table Tennis England) via email or 01908 208881 / 07909523724 with; the name of the athlete, age and which course the athlete is interested in, to register an interest.

Further information will be available soon but if you have any questions please do get in touch.

2017 National Summer Games Key Dates

With the National Summer Games approaching, please be aware of these key registration dates:

8 July 2016 - All unregistered athlete/unified partner SAM registration forms & supporting information to have arrived at Special Olympics GB National Office.
8 July 2016 - All unregistered delegation volunteer registration forms to have arrived at Special Olympics GB National Volunteer Office.
8 August 2016 - All athletes/unified partners taking part in 2017 NSG must be officially SAM registered.
8 August 2016 - All delegation volunteers taking part in 2017 NSG must be officially registered

2016 National Competitions

Confirmed Events

Provisional Events

The Marion Smith Netball Competition: TBC June
4 Nations Para-Badminton Championships (England): 18-19 June
Mencap Sport Open National Athletics Championship: 25 June
Special Olympics GB 2016 National Badminton Competition : 4-5 June
2016 British Learning Disability Swimming Championships: 9-10 July
Swim Wales Open Water Championships (750m and 1500m, Wet Suit): 9-10 July
Special Olympics GB 2016 National Cycling Competition: 23-24 July
British Special Needs Open Judo Championships: 27 August
4 Nations Para-Badminton Championships (Ireland): 18-20 November

Please remember to visit our Event Calendar for the most up-to-date competition information.

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