Swansea City Community Trust launch Inclusion project

Swansea City's Community Trust launched its new Inclusion project this week with a disability tennis festival at Virgin Active Glamorgan.

Over 100 children from local schools took part in a variety of activities throughout the day, with the festival held to officially kick off the new project that aims to make the Community Trust's projects and sessions accessible to all.

"This is a really exciting programme for the Community Trust and one which I am hoping will leave a lasting legacy for Swansea and West Wales," said the Trust's Inclusion senior manager Richard Jones.

"It is one of the first programmes we have which has the potential to work across the whole organisation and make a big difference.
"The difference sport can make to a person's life is enormous and even greater for those with a disability. It has been a great start to the programme and I am excited for its future.

"It's the first step to making sure that the programmes we provide for the community across Swansea and West Wales are available to everyone, including those with a disability."

As such, the festival - which was held in conjunction with Virgin Active and Tennis Wales - saw coaches from our Premier League 4 Sport project deliver the activities.

"The idea is that we embed inclusion across all of our programmes so Premier League 4 Sport was a really good opportunity to start doing that," added Jones.

In addition to Community Trust coaches, Swans club ambassador Lee Trundle swapped his magic daps for a tennis racket as he got involved on the court.

"It's important to support everyone," said Trundle, who presented awards at the event.

"Even if kids have disabilities it doesn't mean they can't enjoy sport and that's what our football club is about. It's about getting out into the community, not only to football events but to any sporting event to get the kids active and to keep them fit."

The festival also marked the launch of the Swans' new inclusive tennis sessions that will be held every Saturday at the venue from 3-5pm.

Costing just £4 per day, with payment on arrival, the sessions are open to people aged 9-16 years of age and are suitable for those with a range of disabilities including wheelchair users. No experience or equipment is needed so all are welcome.

For more information about the sessions, please email Craig@scfccommunitytrust.co.uk