Playground to Podium is a national initiative to develop appropriate, quality player pathways for disabled athletes. There are 3 primary partners involved with the initiative, The Youth Sport Trust, the English Federation of Disability Sport, working on behalf of Sport England, and Parasport GB.

The Youth Sport Trust have committed to providing key personnel in each School Sport Partnership with disability sport training to enable them to hold Identifying Ability Days throughout the academic year. The English Federation of Disability Sport have committed to managing the development of appropriate community club provision and annual County Athlete Assessment Days.

Parasport GB have developed a web based resource to span the various stages of the initiative and to track talented athletes.

The School Sport Partnership’s in North Yorkshire identified 45 talented disabled athletes to attend the County Athlete Assessment Day. North Yorkshire Sport were commissioned to manage the day which allowed 5 Paralympic sport National Governing Body representatives assess the athletes. The athletes were assessed to establish if they showed the relevant qualities, skills and potential to excel in the respective sports. Information was provided detailing opportunities within the County for the athletes to develop their potential and continue to participate in sport.

The day was a great success with all the children thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to show off their skills to everybody present, and who can say, some future Paralympions may have taken the first step on their sporting career.

For more information regarding the Playground to Podium initiative or for general disability sport development issues please contact Simon Pierce, North Yorkshire Sport Disability Development Officer.

simon.pierce@harrogate.gov.uk