At the launch of the campaign the Super Movers for Every Body partnership made available 3,300 inclusive sport equipment packs, funded by the Premier League. But due to overwhelming demand, and the response from teachers and children trying the blind football activities, the partnership provided an additional 3,220 blind football packs to be allocated to schools.
This has enabled the campaign to enrich the sport offering of almost a third of UK primary schools, ensuring a lack of equipment wouldn’t be a barrier to disabled primary children actively participating in PE and sport. Schools that registered, but missed out on packs will instead receive posters, supporting them to bring disability sport representation to sports hall walls.
‘Not one in four, not 50%, not 75%, but every single child should be able to take part in sport.’ said Laura Sugar, the two-time Paralympic champion who retained her title in the Para canoe sprint KL3 classification in Paris and is also a qualified teacher.
Two-time Para canoe World champion and Paris 2024 Paralympic silver medallist Jack Eyers, reflected on being left out at school due to his disability, in contrast to his experience at the Super Movers for Every Body taster session – where every child was included at the same time, regardless of their differences.
To the delight of the children Laura and Jack brought along their gold and silver medals, allowing all the pupils a possible once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to feel the weight of a Paralympic medal round their necks, and inspire them to reach for the stars with their sporting dreams.
Wolves Women’s defender Anna Morphet spoke of the crucial role non-disabled people can play in the progression of disability sport, by taking part in inclusive PE activities like blind football, guided running or boccia: ‘People can put themselves in other people’s shoes and understand the challenges and barriers that they’ve got to overcome.’
And Wolves FC full-back Nelson Semedo highlighted the need for disabled children to play sport, praising the achievements of both Laura Sugar and Jack Eyers and the primary school pupils on the day as further proof that ‘sport is for everybody’ and we must keep the momentum from the Paralympics, the Premier League and a brilliant summer of sport going.
The Super Movers for Every Body resources include teacher support articles that include top tips for inclusive lessons, information on how to get into accessible local clubs and links to training, guides and further research compiled by Activity Alliance.