Cardiff Blue Dragons have been awarded the Disability Sport Wales bronze award, making them just the second Welsh Rugby League Club to achieve this standard.
A significant amount of work has been put in behind the scenes by their management team, led by Alana Sargent and Karen Martin, to achieve this award.
The Insport Club Programme is part of the broader insport project, which aims to support the physical activity, sport, and leisure sectors delivering inclusively of disabled people.
The Insport Club Awards have four levels. Ribbon, Bronze, Silver and Gold. Each level needs more criteria to be met over a prolonged period to “illustrate the extent to which philosophies of inclusion have been embedded throughout the organisation, the difference that working towards inclusion has made to them, and to let those involved with sport nationally know what great ideas and practices they have around inclusion”.
Head coach Alana Sargent said: “As a club, we are really proud of achieving our InSport Bronze accreditation for Inclusion. Being only the second WRL club to achieve this status with Disability Sport Wales, it is a proud moment to have all our hard work recognised.
“We would like to thank Steve Jones, Wheelchair Development Officer for Wales Rugby League for the guidance he provided in helping us with this massive achievement, Sport RCT for their help and guidance with grants and accreditation, and our sponsors who help us to deliver inclusive sessions weekly.
“Our next steps are to continue to strive for best practice for inclusion by continuing to work our way through each award.”
Wales Rugby League’s head of wheelchair rugby league, Stephen Jones, said: “It’s fantastic to see the work our clubs are doing to help us show how inclusive Rugby League is in Wales.
“Cardiff Blue Dragons are just the second club in Wales to attain the InSport Club Bronze award. It’s a testament to Cardiff for completing this programme with Disability Sports Wales, and we look forward to working with them as they embark upon their Silver journey. Congratulations and good luck.”
The club had to show the following to achieve the award…
1. Workforce Development
To identify Disability Inclusion Training rollout plan/commitment for club personnel.
At least one coach/volunteer has attended a Disability Inclusion Training workshop (i.e. UK DIT Coaches and Volunteers, or equivalent) Level 1 club committee, L3 lead coach.
The club has a designated Welfare Officer who has attended adults at risk training
Relevant personnel attend inclusive marketing workshop and share information
2. Programme Support
The club have an ‘Equity Policy’ which is reviewed and communicated to the club membership
The club Welfare Policies provide guidance regarding disabled children and adults at risk. Welfare Policies are communicated to the club membership in formats which are accessible to them.
Ensure that the any social media pages/public facing communications are representative of disabled people
There is a club wide intent to be inclusive and this is communicated appropriately (externally)
3. Organisation
Club is aware of the pathways for disabled people through their sport and individuals are signposted to appropriate progressions. Eg. insport series, parasport festival, inspire campaign
Develop a club development plan with a focus on disability inclusion
Participants/performers, coaches and volunteers’ successes are promoted (nominated for awards, celebrating achievement local and national (as appropriate) programmes which reward contributions to sport
On successful award of Bronze, to make a commitment to progress to Silver within a mutually agreed time frame
