The Natspec Games are fast approaching and the excitement is building with the hosts and participants putting the final touches to their preparations.
The games seek to bring together local colleges and learners with a range of abilities to participate in inclusive sport and try new experiences. The activities are diverse and suitable for each learner and include boccia, shotput, athletics, tennis, cycling, archery, football and more.
This year’s Natspec Games are kindly being hosted by the below colleges:
- Seashell Trust (SportCity, Manchester) – Thursday 16 May 2019
- United Response (Torbay Leisure Centre, Torquay) – Thursday 16 May 2019
- Royal National College for the Blind (Hereford) – Monday 20 May 2019
- Communication Specialist College Doncaster- Wednesday 22 May 2019
- Young Epilepsy (Lingfield) – Thursday 20 June 2019
The event is a major opportunity to showcase the skills and enthusiasm of students and is being supported by Sport England, AoC Sport and several Governing Bodies of Sport. The Natspec Games are also a great way to ensuring students are living a healthy and active lifestyle.
In 2018, AoC Sport conducted research into the current landscape of physical activity and sport for disabled students. Sport has a number of positive impacts as you can see below:
Last year the games ran across four sites and twenty-nine colleges and over 270 learners took part in the range of inclusive sport on offer. Stacey Betts, Assistant Principal at Communication Specialist College Doncaster, one of the host colleges for the 2018 Natspec Games, commented, “It’s about an opportunity to come together – it doesn’t matter what disability the learner may have, they can partake in each activity. It’s inspiring to see learners take part in sports that they otherwise might not have done so and encourages healthy competition!”
If you haven’t already signed up to take part in the Natspec Games then please email shannon.howarth@aoc.co.uk who can tell you all about how to get involved with your local event.
