Witney News - Holiday play scheme for disabled young people

Holiday play scheme for disabled young people

A play scheme has been organised for disabled young people at West Oxfordshire District Council’s Windrush Leisure Centre in Witney during the school holidays.

The ‘Active Access Zone’ sessions give young people the opportunity to take part in sports and leisure activities including swimming, boccia, gym sessions and arts and crafts.
Running every Thursday from 10am to 4pm, the sessions are open to 11 to 17-year-olds with learning or physical disabilities.

The sessions have been organised by the District Council in conjunction with its leisure contractor Nexus Community, which runs the leisure centre.

The Council and Nexus worked with Witney’s Springfield School to pilot the sessions during the Easter school break in preparation for the launch during the summer holidays and it is the first time that a regular play scheme specifically for disabled young people has run at the centre.

Cllr Richard Langridge, Cabinet Member for Local Economy and Communities, said: “The sessions follow on from a successful pilot earlier this year and also a multi-sports club for disabled adults which has been running at the centre.

“They have been well received so far and will run during each school holiday in the same way that all the other holiday play schemes run at our leisure centres. This is all part of a wider project to encourage inclusiveness in West Oxfordshire and to create more opportunities for people of all abilities to take part in sport and leisure.”

Azeem Butt (pictured centre wearing grey T-shirt) is among young people who have been attending the sessions. Azeem is a pupil at Springfield School and found out about the scheme from out-of-school liaison officer Gwen Taylor, who helped the Council and Nexus Community to set it up.

He said: "I have been coming to every session since it started with some other people from school. We really enjoy it, our favourite activities are football, swimming and the gym.”

Nexus Community aims to accommodate all children and young people’s needs. Parents and carers interested in the Active Access Zone scheme can contact Alison Savage at the leisure centre on 01993 202020 to discuss their children’s needs and suitability of the scheme.