Young people with visual impairments from across Manchester gear up for Paralympics with Multi Sports Day

By GM Moving | 23 August 2024 | TAGS: GM School Games, Your School Games, Sophie Unwin, British Archery, Goal Ball UK, Lancashire Lions, Football, Cricket, Baseball, Manchester Sensory support services

On Thursday 4^th July, pupils with visual impairments (VI) from across Manchester came together at the House of Sport to take part in a multi sports day. There were 5 sports on offer to take part in: Baseball, Cricket, Archery, Football, and Goal ball – the last three now paralympic sports and featuring this year at Paris.

Participants ranged from 6- 16 and got to experience and compete against other pupils of a similar age.

The event was a partnership between GM Moving, School Games, Manchester Sensory Support Services (MSS), Goalball UK, Lancashire Lions and Archery GB (MSS).

Dan Stroker a teacher at MSS who has run the event for the last couple of years said:

“I am passionate about providing sport, competition and physical activity opportunties to young people with visually impairments. It’s often these young people who miss out on the sports days and activities that their peers are able to take part in at this time of year, and so I want to give these pupils their own opportunities to reach their sporting potential.”

Dan came to GM Moving for support to help grow the event and connect to other sports that would be suitable for VI pupils. He’s keen ensure that more pupils who are supported by sensory support services from across Greater Manchester get the same opportunities to enjoy the multi-sport day that is on offer each year.

Partnering with GM Moving this year helped connect Archery GB into the event for the first time, with many of the pupils having never tried this sport before. It was a big hit and for some an activity they couldn’t wait to do again.

Rehan, 14 from Lancastrian School in Manchester, was keen to get home to tell his grandad all about using a bow an arrow for the first time:

“It has made me very happy. I enjoyed taking part. It has been a really fun day of activities I could enjoy, and I would definitely recommend to others”

Jessica Simons, the School Games lead at GM Moving said:

“It was great to be able to work with Dan at MSS, and the other partners, to provide opportunities for these pupils. For most of these pupils this is one of the few opportunties they may get to come out and represent their school and take part in sport and physical activity.

“Ensuring we provide opportunities for young people with special educational needs is one of our key priorities for the GM School Games and this event encompassed everything we look to achieve when we run events like these; inspiring, fun, and an opportunity for these young people to find the activity or sport they love!”

The event concluded with a Q&A session with visually-impaired Paralympic Cyclist Sophie Unwin, the winner of two Paralympic medals and six world titles. Pupils were keen to tune in to how Sophie gets on this summer at the paralympic games.