Minister for Sport Richard Caborn launched a new high profile award aimed at developing sport and physical activity for disabled people.
The `Count Me In` award, launched on 25th January, at the House of Commons, will be given to all those succeed in extending access to physical activity by committing themselves to giving disabled people the same rights to sporting opportunities as non-disabled people.
English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS), the key co-ordinating body for the development of sport for disabled people in England, is running the scheme aimed at any organisation involved in sports provision – including local authorities, businesses, educational establishments, governing bodies of sport and county sports partnerships as well as sponsors and media organisations. EFDS will support any organisation wanting to be counted in for the new award and aims to celebrate successful participants who will be able to display their accreditation via the Count Me In logo on all correspondence.
Launching the new award, MP Richard Caborn said: “This Government is committed to ensuring that everyone is given the opportunity to participate in sport and physical activity.
“The EFDS has a crucial role to play and I am delighted to launch this new award which will go a long way to ensuring that disabled people all over the country enjoy the same sporting opportunities and choices as their non-disabled counterparts.”
EFDS Chief Executive Colin Chaytors said: “These are exciting times for disability sport. 2012 provides a unique opportunity for everyone and I am confident that, as a country, we are prepared to meet the challenge and work together to make sure disability sport no longer sits outside of the mainsteam.
“Everyone from Government to the public and private sectors, governing bodies of sport to local community groups, have an unprecedented opportunity to make a lasting difference. We want to celebrate those who make a difference and the Count Me In award is our chance to do this.”
Organisations wanting to register for the scheme can find support and resources on the EFDS website at www.efds.co.uk
