Sporting chance for youths: Bradford Actionnaires

From: "BlindNews Mailing List" <BlindNews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <BlindNews@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 21 Oct 2007 20:14:43 -0400
Bradford Telegraph Argus (UK)
Saturday, October 20, 2007

Sporting chance for youths: Bradford Actionnaires

By James Rush

Caption: Usman Zahid, ten, tries football for the visually impaired 

Hundreds of blind children in Bradford will now have the chance to try new 
sports following the launch of a specialist club.

Bradford Actionnaires was officially opened on Saturday when visually impaired 
children were able to take part in activities such as football, climbing and 
swimming for free.

Sports Minister and Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe was at the centre, run by 
Action for Blind People, at the Richard Dunn Leisure Centre in Rooley Lane, 
Odsal.

He said: "I am delighted to open Action for Blind People's latest sports club.

"I believe that sport is essential to children as it encourages team work, 
builds up fitness and contributes to a general sense of wellbeing.

"I shall work within Government to enhance sporting opportunities for blind and 
partially sighted children both via clubs such as these, in mainstream schools 
and in society as a whole."

According to the charity, 80 per cent of the almost 400 visually impaired 
children in the city are from black and Asian minority ethnic communities.

A spokesman for the group said it is committed to working with local 
communities to ensure it is reaching out to children from all diverse 
backgrounds.

Haria Sabir, eight, is shown the basics of rugby by Mohammed Dawood 
Bradford Bulls head coach Steve McNamara also offered his support.

He said: "On behalf of Bradford Bulls, I would like to wish Actionnaires every 
success for the future.

"We are fully supportive of any organisation that encourages young people to 
take up sport and Actionnaires is doing a vital job in this area with visually 
impaired people."

The club will meet every Saturday from 10am to noon and is open to all visually 
impaired children and young people from the ages of eight to 16. Younger 
children may also attend with a parent or guardian, while sighted siblings and 
friends are also welcome.

Lesley Inganni, Action for Blind People sports development officer, said: 
"Bradford Actionnaires offers blind and partially sighted children the chance 
to try different sports in a fun, safe and encouraging environment.

"The club is for everyone - whether they're budding Paralympians or have never 
tried sport before.

"We're very grateful to Bradford Council's Sport and Leisure Service for their 
generous support and everyone else who has worked with Action to make this club 
possible.

"Without funding for equipment, such as footballs with beads inside, or the 
hiring of specialist coaches, the club simply couldn't run."

For more information about Bradford Actionnaires or to volunteer for the group, 
contact Lesley on 07703 099354 or e-mail 
lesley.inganni@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

3:10pm Saturday 20th October 2007

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/newsindex/display.var.1775111.0.sporting_chance_for_youths.php
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Sporting chance for youths: Bradford Actionnaires

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