Disability Sport

SUNDERLAND DISABILITY SPORTS FORUM
TERMS OF REFERENCE 
                                
The role of the Sunderland Disability Forum is to work with children who have physical and/or medical needs and who are attending a mainstream school within the City of Sunderland. We must ensure for these children the equality of opportunity through the provision of inclusive physical education and discrete disability sport events within an accessible and supportive environment.

1. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The Sunderland Disability Sports Forum has the following aim:

To increase the quantity and improve the quality of opportunities for young people with disabilities to participate in sport and physical activity in Sunderland and realise their sporting potential.

The objectives of the group are:

1.  To improve communication between the relevant agencies and individuals that are working to develop disability sport to ensure a co-ordinated and effective approach.
2.  To promote and share examples of good practice, and the sport and physical activity opportunities available to young people with disabilities, across organisations within Sunderland.
3. To better inform the general public of the sporting opportunities available for people with disabilities.
4. To support people with disabilities into performance pathways to help them to realise their potential.
5. To lead on the organisation of sub-regional, and contribute to planning and delivery of regional, competitions and events.
6. To develop and promote appropriate training opportunities.
7. To seek to attract funding for the development of disability sport in Sunderland.
8. To provide support and advice in relation to disability sport issues.
9. To work to resolve, or seek clarification over, other issues/queries highlighted by members of the group.

2. MEMBERSHIP

Membership of the group will consist of representatives from the following:

1. School Sport Co-ordinator with responsibility for disability/inclusion.
2. Team manager of Sunderland Local Authority Specialist Support Team.
3. A PDM from a Sports College.
4. A School Sport Co-ordinator (SSCo.) from identified schools.
5. A Disability Coach from hub school for young people with physical difficulties in LA.
6. A Competition Team Representative.
7. Identified young people with disabilities, their parents or carers to attend as appropriate.
Representatives of other organisations may be invited to attend the meetings following agreement from the group.
Sunderland Disability Sports Forum will link in to the Tyne and Wear Disability Sports Forum. Up to two representatives from Sunderland Forum (Competition Manager and SSCo.) will attend the Tyne and Wear Forum to update on their work areas and detail their priorities, then feedback to group.

3. MEETINGS

1. The group will usually meet on a half termly basis, and will be chaired by SSCo.
2. Additional meetings may be established to drive forward necessary issues that arise through the group.
3. The minutes will be circulated a maximum of 2 weeks after the meeting has taken place.
4 .The agenda and supporting documents will be circulated by SSCo.(Disability) at least 4 working days prior to the next meeting date.
5. Group members should contact SSCo.(Disability) at least 1 week prior to the next meeting date should they wish to add an item to the agenda.

4. EXPECTATIONS

The expectations of individual members of the group are as follows:

1. To attend the meetings, or if they are unable to attend, send their apologies.
2. To prepare for the meeting by reading the appropriate documents circulated in advance.
3. To complete any tasks which are identified in the minutes.
4. To make arrangements to ensure that they can represent the views of their schools/team and consult with young people/parents/carers as appropriate.
5. To bring to the attention of the group members any issues which they feel should be of concern to the group as soon as possible.

 For further information please contact Jane McKay, School Sport Co-ordinator,  disability / inclusion on  07990 791 612 or jane.mckay@yahoo.co.uk