A group of inclusively minded, committed and inspirational young people from Swansea came together with 120 other likeminded volunteers form eight major UK cities for the National Inclusive Futures Camp on 27-29 March at Loughborough University.
We had a strong representation from the Disability Sport Wales Inclusive Futures Team from Swansea with nine young volunteers, our three athlete mentors James Ledger, Jordan Rosser and James Coyle-King and our Sports Ambassador Ieuan Coombes who all played an in integral part in creating an inspiring and positive experience for all involved. We were also delighted to have Jon Morgan, Disability Sport Wales Executive Director, to represent our team during the opening ceremony and Fiona Reid, Disability Sport Wales Innovations Manager, who delivered the UK DIT workshop during the camp.
Our IF team attended the three-day residential camp to take part in a range of high quality leadership and volunteering workshops, such as team building skills, inclusion training, wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball. With leadership advice, coaching and encouragement from Ieuan and our athlete mentors during the camp, the young people enhanced their skills and confidence to become even better ambassadors for the Inclusive Futures Programme.
In addition to the above workshops, our IF team secured £400.00 following a successful ‘pitch’ during a Dragons Den session that was organised by the IF Co-ordinators. Our IF team returned to Swansea with the cash to develop and deliver an innovative and inclusive event that will engage and encourage the community to open its doors for disabled and non-disabled young people. Exact details of the winning pitch will be revealed soon!!!
We are tremendously proud of our young volunteers from Swansea during the weekend, many of whom have a dual role as both a Young Ambassador and IF Champion. Their enthusiasm, commitment and ability to take it upon themselves to ensure inclusivity of all sessions throughout the camp was inspiring. It was this ability that had such a positive and powerful impact on other young people, particularly those who had an impairment. There is no doubt that with our IF team we have the right young people, in the right place, at the right time to shape an inclusive future in Swansea and beyond.
The Swansea IF team would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to our partners Youth Sport Trust for organising and hosting the camp, to the City & County of Swansea for hosting and supporting the project in Swansea and to Disability Sport Wales for their continued support, expertise, encouragement and commitment to ensure the project fulfils its true potential.
And finally…. one of our athlete mentors, Jordan Rosser who has an impairment, summed up the impact of the camp before we were about to board the bus home when he said “This is the first time I’ve felt appreciated and accepted where I was always involved and felt part of something” to which Ieuan Coombes, our Sports Ambassador replied “…it may be the first time you’ve been appreciated but it certainly won’t be the last.” Powerful words.
