British Wheelchair Basketball has joined forces with four leading organisations in its bid to double participation in the sport.

The partnerships will be activated through the Inspire a Generation programme, British Wheelchair Basketball’s ground-breaking new initiative. The programme has been designed to support disabled participants find or return to physical activity, many of whom have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NGB is actively seeking Local and National Delivery Partners to support the successful development of its Inspire a Generation initiative, via inspireageneration.com. These partners and leading charities such as StreetGames, WheelPower, Whizz-Kidz and UK Coaching will be central to the recruitment of Community Activators and the delivery of the Inspire a Generation wheelchair basketball taster sessions in communities across England.

Discussing the new partnerships Lisa Pearce, Chief Executive at British Wheelchair Basketball said:

“It’s a really exciting time for us as a sport and I’m delighted to be joining forcing with StreetGames, WheelPower, Whizz-Kidz and UK Coaching. Utilising their experience and expertise will allow us to collectively deliver a fun and engaging introduction to wheelchair basketball. We’ve developed a brand-new approach for the sport at a local community level, and I am excited for the programme to get underway in the summer.

“We are really keen to collaborate with new sporting and community partners through this initiative and encourage them to reach out to find out how we can work together. Never has there been a more important time to actively look after the physical health of our nation, working as a team with National and Local Delivery Partners I am absolutely certain that we can successfully achieve this ambition.”

UK Coaching Director of Coaching Emma Atkins said:

“Coaches play a positive role in bringing people and communities together through sport and physical activity. As the nation rebuilds, they will be crucial in ensuring their participants are able to return to activity and feel confident in doing so. The Inspire a Generation programme is a fantastic opportunity to utilise these skills and introduce people to the sport whilst creating positive physical activity habits.”

The new initiative, driven by British Wheelchair Basketball and supported by £1.5m of funding from Sport England, is a hugely exciting development for the sport, with an ambition to engage an inactive population through inclusive activity and transition participants into longer-term active lifestyles.

Hannah Crane, Director of People & Partnerships at StreetGames added:

“The Inspire a Generation programme is a hugely exciting opportunity which will give young people the chance to play wheelchair basketball in their local communities. We are excited to work with British Wheelchair Basketball to recruit Community Activators and deliver accessible and positive experiences for young people to find and return to physical activity.”

Martin McElhatton, Chief Executive at WheelPower said:

“It is our ambition to ensure disabled people have opportunities to play sport and lead healthy active lives. Wheelchair basketball is accessible to all, regardless of age or ability and we are delighted to be working with British Wheelchair Basketball on the delivery of the Inspire a Generation programme. It’s been a very challenging year for disabled people but we know that playing sport can enrich lives and we look forward to supporting this exciting programme and linking it to our work with newly paralysed men and women and young disabled people.”

Jo Fashan, Associate Director, Young People’s Services, at Whizz-Kidz said:

“We are excited to be working with British Wheelchair Basketball on their Inspire a Generation programme. Our aim is to ensure young disabled people have the opportunity to live fun, enjoyable lives and there are so many benefits to being active, both physically and mentally. We look forward to rolling out the Inspire a Generation sessions within communities.”

To find out more about the Inspire a Generation programme, or to become a Partner, visit www.inspireageneration.com.