Disability Sport Wales held the Arriva Trains Wales insport Series event this weekend (5th and 6th May) for the first time at Abercynon Sports Centre. The Cwm Taf event welcomed over 200 disabled people of all ages and abilities, where they could try a variety of sports with a range of adapted equipment.
The two day event that was led by Active Merthyr and Sport RCT offered children, young people and adults the opportunity to take part in a range of activities. Each day various sports were run by club coaches and volunteers; they included tennis, golf, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair football, karate, boccia plus a range of family activity classes.
The weekend was supported by members of the Disability Sport Wales National Youth Board who 
took on both coaching opportunities and running disability inclusion training for schools sessions. Bronnie Griffiths National youth board member said “It has been great as a Platinum Young Ambassador (YA) for RCT and DSW NYB member to have an opportunity to support this event. Having the opportunity to deliver the mini DIT (Disability Inclusion Training) course was a great new challenge and a really mind opening experience”
Shelley Jones Disability Sport Wales Development officer for Sport RCT added “With nearly 150 children attending the first Cwm Taff insport Series it was great to deliver the newly launched mini DIT course to 37 students from across RCT and Merthyr. These students will take what they have learned back to their schools to support their teachers in making PE lessons, extra curricular activities and play ground games more accessible. Delivered by one of RCTs YAs and the newly formed DSW National Youth Board members, this training offered to students who themselves have disabilities, will be sure to improve physical activity and accessibility back in school.”
As well as mini DIT training the weekend offered something different in the form of Active play. An area where younger participants had the opportunity to have unstructured activity. Dan Bufton Disability Sport Wales Development officer for Active Merthyr Said “It has been great to run the very first Cwm Taf insport Series event this weekend. We’ve seen a range of activities including our new ‘play space’, which gives younger participants who need a safe, unstructured opportunity to be active and develop physical skills, the chance to do so. A huge thank you to our invaluable volunteers who made the event happen, made up clubs, ambassadors and students. Events like this simply can’t take place without them ”
Michelle Daltry Disability Sport Wales Partnership Manager Said “the insport Series is a huge part of the Disability Sport Wales offer, providing families and disabled people with the opportunity to try a whole range of inclusive sports in one place. We would like to thank our community clubs and sponsors, Arriva trains wales, for their ongoing support ”
The next insport Series event will be on the 9th July at Haverfordwest Leisure Centre. Keep an eye on our social media pages for more information.
