Kids come together to ‘Check it Out’

A scheme bringing together children from disabled and non-disabled backgrounds to participate in a range of activities has got the thumbs up from youngsters in Sheffield.

Fourteen children, aged between 9-11 years old from Sharrow Primary School and Woolley Wood Special School, took part in the Check it Out scheme run by the Children’s Voices Project jointly with ibK initiatives.

Check It Out’s aim was for children to participate in activities together, rather than separately, and to investigate leisure venues and activities in Sheffield.

The activities ranged from basketball and horse riding, to tent building. The children enjoyed ice skating at iceSheffield, and swimming at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre.

Children in wheelchairs were lifted into rubber floats by the lifeguards at Ponds Forge to swim and play in the pool with all the other children.

Helen Broadbent (SIV), general manager at Ponds Forge, which is operated by Sheffield International Venues, said: “We were very pleased to be a part of the Check it Out scheme. At SIV, we are committed to making physical activity accessible to all and it was great to see our venues being used by all the children, both disabled and non-disabled. It was great to see that the children who were in wheelchairs said they felt free when swimming in the pool at Ponds Forge.”

At iceSheffield, all the children got onto the ice, including those in wheelchairs, who were pushed around the rink by the other children.

Clare Humberstone, project manager at the Children’s Voices Project, said: “A lot of time and effort went it to planning the different activities. The staff across Sheffield International Venues were very accommodating, in particular at Ponds Forge where we witnessed such a positive attitude and approach from the lifeguards to the project.

“The biggest achievement from my perspective, is the new experiences the children enjoyed. When we started out, the non-disabled children didn’t understand how the disabled children would be able to join them in the activities, but in the end all the children had a fantastic time.”

The project is proposing to extend the Check It Out scheme, by working with other groups of children and more venues in Sheffield.