Schools and leisure services need to improve the way they help disabled Londoners stay active, a new report[1] from the London Assembly says today.
The report, by the Assembly’s Economy, Culture and Sport (ECS) Committee, follows up on a 2006 report[2] which highlighted the low level of physical activity among disabled Londoners.
Since that time - despite the efforts of successive mayors and improvements to facilities - the number of disabled Londoners achieving the recommended level of physical activity has only risen to around one in ten[3].
The report recognises that, in his Inclusive and Active strategy[4], the Mayor and his partners have the right overall approach, but sets out a number of improvements that could help ensure more progress is made.
These include promoting active travel options through Transport for London, ensuring teachers have the right skills to keep disabled children involved in school sports, and considering using London 2012 volunteers to encourage disabled people to stay active.
Dee Doocey AM, Chair of the ECS Committee said:
"In the six years since the publication of our first report on the subject, more and more disabled children are being educated in mainstream schools, but teachers are still not being given the necessary training to include them in sport and physical education. Until the government addresses this problem, the situation will only get worse.
"The Mayor has the right overall approach, but London simply has to get better at helping disabled people stay active. With the 2012 Games just around the corner, it would be a terrible legacy to see the world’s best disabled athletes competing in the city and then fail to capitalise on their inspirational example."
The Committee today set out its conclusions in a letter to the Mayor and Secretary of State for Education.
For more information, contact: Alastair Cowan in the Assembly Media Office on 020 7983 4504/4283
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