Written question asked by Mary MacLeod (Conservative) on Friday, 6 March 2015, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 10 March 2015. It was answered by Helen Grant (Conservative) on Thursday, 12 March 2015 on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Sports: Young People

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to ensure that 16 to 19 year olds have access to competitive sporting opportunities as (a) players and (b) volunteers or officials in specialist disability colleges.

Answer: We provide a range of opportunities for disabled young people to get into playing, volunteering and official roles. Last year for example almost 29,000 young disabled people took part at Level 3 of the School Games (county festivals). Sport England also works closely with the Association of National Special Colleges (Natspec) to get more young disabled people playing sport. Learning from Sport England’s work with Natspec colleges is shared with colleges and sixth forms to support them. Further, Sport England is investing £401,153 in the English Learning Disability Sports Alliance, a partnership between Special Olympics GB and Mencap Sport. As part of this investment twelve new partnership networks, which include SEN colleges and schools, will offer new opportunities for people with a learning disability to regularly participate in sport.

Secondary information