Local disability sports club looking for new Waterford members
Wheelchair sports clubs from across Ireland pictured at an IWA-Sport competition earlier this year.
A local disability sports club, under Junior South East Swifts, has launched a recruitment campaign for new members aged 5 and up and is calling on parents of young people with physical disabilities to involve their children in wheelchair and para sports this winter.
Junior South East Swifts and IWA-Sport hope to recruit new members to kick off the new season for their wheelchair basketball club, which welcomes young people with physical disabilities from across Kilkenny, Carlow, Waterford and Wexford.
The club meets weekly with a variety of teams, activities, and social events each season, on Mondays from 6-7pm at Presentation College, Askea, Carlow.
10-year-old Naoise Reddy from Waterford is an enthusiastic member of Junior South East Swifts and her mother Tracy Reddy says sport has had a hugely positive impact on her daughter.
“Sport is important for everybody, especially those with a physical disability. It is essential to be active and Junior South East Swifts has given us the opportunity to take part in team sports and to be an equal member of the team,” Tracy said.
"I Iove going to wheelchair basketball and getting better every week,” Naoise said, adding that she’s made great friends in the club and loves zooming around the hall in her chair at practices.
Junior South West Swifts is one of 19 clubs for people with physical disabilities across Ireland affiliated with IWA-Sport.
“We know that sports help children’s self-esteem, emotional functioning, strength, mobility and physical health,” said Paul Ryan, IWA-Sport's National Operations Manager.
“Sport is also important to help prevent health issues like diabetes and high blood pressure. We know sport and games are an important part of every child’s development and children with disabilities are no different.”
IWA-Sports clubs work across Ireland linking in with local HSE services and sports partnerships to support children with disabilities and their families to get involved locally with sport.
“We know the benefits for young children are tremendous,” Mr. Ryan added, “and they have loads of fun too. We hope to encourage more parents of children with disabilities in the southeast to get in touch and get involved.”
To learn more about Junior South East Swifts, you can contact local volunteer Avril at 086 191 5204 or sign up online at www.iwa.ie/sport/join.
