(Mar.09)

CCPR DIO Meeting on 10.2.09
A report from Bertie Everard

The meeting began with an input from Phil Lane, British Paralympic Association. He said in the 2008 games, the UK punched beyond its weight, coming second only to the Chinese, with 42 gold medals. So for 2012, expectations are very high. The association wants to change attitudes to Paralympics sport, which so far had not fully engaged the young. They are engaging with many partners to increase the power of the brand to achieve this.

Next was Peter Hull, Paralympic silver medallist, who wanted to see a more inclusive approach to PE and sport at the local level, eg in schools. He was working with NGBs on festivals that would help to achieve this, and with young disabled people to get them active. The plan was to advocate inclusion in PE and all sports. ‘Parasport’ is an access portal to sports for disabled people; it consists of a self-assessment tool for matching ability to a particular sport, enabling holders to find out what sports they can engage in. It is claimed to be very successful in getting kids involved. I asked if the sports involved included adventurous non-competitive sports. They are not excluded and they have been pressing sport England to develop different pathways, eg multi-sport clubs, in which adventure sports would be included.. However, there are no specific plans to benefit outdoor and adventurous activities, notwithstanding their featuring in the PE curriculum.

Under the policy update agenda item, it was regretted that cycling and walking were sidelined.

Very little of interest to IOL featured in the rest of the agenda. The CCPR 37th National Conference will be on 6 May on the theme Running on Empty – Sport in a Recession. This will be the last over which Prince Philip will preside: he is standing down, and there will be a tribute dinner in his honour on 14 July.

The New Year Honours List of those associated with CCPR was tabled. There is no-one from adventure sports or outdoor pursuits on the list.

The CCPR is running three seminars on The Future of Child Protection and New Legislation on 15 April (Nottingham, 30 April (Manchester) and 5 May (London). The cost is £25. I asked if the points made about the Safeguarding Authority at a previous DIO meeting had had any effect, but it was not known (I am pretty sure that they have had no effect, and I was advised to liaise with Andy Hanson on the issue.

The current deputy chair of the DIO was re-nominated.

Future meetings are to be held only once a year.

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