The Bucks and Milton Keynes County Sports Partnership held it annual Disability Multi-Skills Festival on Wednesday 6th February 2008 at the Stoke Mandeville Stadium. It was a pan disability event for key stage 2 children (school years 5 and 6). There were a wide range of disabilities at the festival including moderate learning difficulties, hearing and visual impairments, cerebral palsey, dyspraxia and autism. Special Schools from across Bucks and Milton Keynes attended as well as pupils with disabilities from mainstream schools. In total the festival was attended by over 80 children.
The festivals guest of honour was Sporting Champion Clare Strange a Paralympic Basketball Player. Clare watched the children taking part before giving a demonstration of her skills and answering some of the children’s questions at lunch time.
At the festival the students participated in 4 activities, SAQ, athletics, multi-skills games and a series of multi-skill stations. Each station was run by a young leader from Alfriston School. The young leaders did an excellent job helping the students on each station and teachers commented on what a good job they did.
By 2:00pm the children had tried each activity and it was time to finish. Clare handed out certificates to every child for their attendance before everyone left and the hall was packed up.
The children had a day of sport and physical activity where they enjoyed themselves and learnt new skills. The teachers got a chance to see what Multi-Skills consist of, got a few ideas of different games they could try in their lessons and had a chance to see what sporting opportunities are out there for their students.
