Boost for our disability sports

Disability Sport NI and Progressive Building Society have partnered on a new three-year partnership to support the development of Disability Sports Hubs across Northern Ireland, improving the health and wellbeing of people with disabilities.
Pictured at the launch are from left Barbara Redmond-Disability Sport NI, Disability Sports Hub Activity Leader, Aubrey Bingham-Disability Sport NI, Community Sport Manager, Graham Norris - Progressive Building society, Regional Manager, participants from the Lisburn and Castlereagh Disability Sports Hub Boccia Group, Michael McAteer MBE, Disability Sport NI, Chairperson, Christine Duncan, Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, Sports, Sports DevelopmentPictured at the launch are from left Barbara Redmond-Disability Sport NI, Disability Sports Hub Activity Leader, Aubrey Bingham-Disability Sport NI, Community Sport Manager, Graham Norris - Progressive Building society, Regional Manager, participants from the Lisburn and Castlereagh Disability Sports Hub Boccia Group, Michael McAteer MBE, Disability Sport NI, Chairperson, Christine Duncan, Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, Sports, Sports Development
Pictured at the launch are from left Barbara Redmond-Disability Sport NI, Disability Sports Hub Activity Leader, Aubrey Bingham-Disability Sport NI, Community Sport Manager, Graham Norris - Progressive Building society, Regional Manager, participants from the Lisburn and Castlereagh Disability Sports Hub Boccia Group, Michael McAteer MBE, Disability Sport NI, Chairperson, Christine Duncan, Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, Sports, Sports Development

It will be the first time ever that Northern Ireland’s main disability sports charity will have part-time activity leaders based in each of the 11 local council areas.

The Disability Sports Hub Activity Leader for the Lisburn area, Barbara Redmond is making a big impact in the council area. Having recently taken up post, Barbara was proud to join Disability Sport NI’s Chairperson Michael McAteer MBE to meet Progressive Building Society Regional Manager Graeme Norris to launch the new partnership at the Disability Sports Hub’s Boccia Programme.

Barbara supports a number of disability sports initiatives in the Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council area with the council’s Every Body Active 2020 Team including Boccia and Inclusive Cycling Programmes.

The Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council Disability Sports Hub Boccia Group are off to a great start, showing some impressive skills early onThe Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council Disability Sports Hub Boccia Group are off to a great start, showing some impressive skills early on
The Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council Disability Sports Hub Boccia Group are off to a great start, showing some impressive skills early on

Full details on disability sports clubs in Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council area will be available through Barbara who can be contacted on [email protected].

The launch of the Progressive partnership in Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council area marks the third launch of the initiative that will continue to be rolled out across Northern Ireland.

According to Disability Sport NI’s Chairperson Michael McAteer MBE: “The new partnership with Progressive Building Society is off to a great start and it was a pleasure to meet branch manager Graeme Morrison to celebrate the launch of the partnership in Lough Moss Leisure Centre.

“Barbara is doing a fantastic job in developing the Lisburn City Council Disability Sports Hub with support from Lisburn City Council Every Body Active 2020 Team and we hope that the project continues to gain momentum as we roll the project out in every single council area.

A tense moment as the Disability Sports Hub Boccia Group take on Graeme Norris, Regional Manager of Progressive Building SocietyA tense moment as the Disability Sports Hub Boccia Group take on Graeme Norris, Regional Manager of Progressive Building Society
A tense moment as the Disability Sports Hub Boccia Group take on Graeme Norris, Regional Manager of Progressive Building Society

“We are very excited about the partnership with Progressive Building Society who share our vision of truly benefitting local communities across Northern Ireland.”

Progressive Branch Manager Graeme Norris welcomed the partnership added: “It is a pleasure to be involved in such a positive initiative with Disability Sport NI and great to see first-hand the great work that Barbara is doing that will benefit people in the local area with a disability.

“At Progressive Building Society we are very focused on working with local communities and forming partnerships for the better of everyone. The Disability Sports Hub Project is a great fit with the ethos of our organisation.”

The Chairman of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council’s Leisure and Community Development Committee, Alderman James Tinsley concluded: “The Council is delighted to launch the Disability Sports Hub initiative at Lough Moss Leisure Centre. The introduction of Disability Hub Activity Leaders to work in partnership with our Everv Body Active 2020 coaches will further improve health and wellbeing opportunities for people with disabilities ensuring our programmes and services are inclusive and accessible for all. I would thank to thank Disability Sport and Progressive Building Society for partnering such a great initiative.”

Progressive Building Society Regional Manager Graeme Norris makes an impressive Boccia throw cheered on by participants from the Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council Disability Sports Hub Boccia GroupProgressive Building Society Regional Manager Graeme Norris makes an impressive Boccia throw cheered on by participants from the Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council Disability Sports Hub Boccia Group
Progressive Building Society Regional Manager Graeme Norris makes an impressive Boccia throw cheered on by participants from the Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council Disability Sports Hub Boccia Group

The new Northern Ireland wide partnership between Disability Sport NI and Progressive Building Society will develop over 11,000 participation opportunities for people with disabilities, transforming access to disability sports in Northern Ireland.

The support from Progressive Building Society will continue the momentum of the Active Living: No Limits 2021 Action Plan which has already seen up to £1,000,000 of disability sports equipment secured for the sector through Disability Sport NI and funded by the Department for Communities through Sport NI, an initiative that has been strongly supported by the local council areas.

The Disability Sports Hub Project will continue to develop new clubs and programmes all across the country to include programmes such as wheelie active, wheelchair basketball, boccia, sensory and inclusive cycling. This project will raise the visibility of disability sports opportunities and encourage more people with a disability to be active and be the best.