The vision is that Loughborough University becomes the world leaders in Para and Disability sport, providing its students, staff and partners with an unrivalled ecosystem.
The new strategy is a refresh of the 2019 strategy which set a fantastic foundation. Moving ahead there is a central theme of opportunity for disabled students to achieve at the highest level or to be active and enjoy participating in sport.
Delivered following extensive consultation with students, staff members from across the University, and input from external partners, the mission is to ensure that every disabled student, or prospective student, sees that sport and physical activity in Loughborough is for everyone.
The central pillars are:
- Performance – reaching your potential and achieving at the highest level you can do
- Get Involved – participating in sport or becoming a coach or volunteer
- Develop the Workforce – developing our employed staff, our volunteers and our students
These will be driven forward through partnerships, research and innovation, and a drive to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all disabled people on Loughborough’s campuses.
Alasdair Donaldson, Head of Para Sport, Loughborough University said:
“Since the first Para Sport Strategy was published the number of students on campus with physical impairments has risen by 71 per cent and we have had an increase in the total number of disabled students by 22 per cent, while supporting our para athletes to achieve great things, not least at the Paris Paralympic Games.
“This is not purely as a result of the work of Loughborough Sport but speaks to our ability to be joined up across campus in supporting and providing the best possible services for our disabled students. We can now aim to continue to build on this through further collaboration and in capitalising on both the Sporting Excellence and Opportunity core plan and the EDI core plan.”
David Clarke OBE, Chief Executive of ParalympicsGB said: “We are delighted to see Loughborough University publish their Para and Disability Sport strategy with the aim of providing equitable opportunities for both their disabled students and partners in high-performance sport, wider community sport participation, and in developing their workforce.
“At ParalympicsGB we know the power sport has to transform lives and challenge perceptions of disability and our partnership with Loughborough University means we can continue to be a world leader in championing inclusive sport for all disabled people.”
The strategy can be viewed in full by visiting Loughborough University’s Para Sport website here: www.lboro.ac.uk/sport/para-sport/
The document is accessible, but there is also a plain text version should this be the best way for you to engage with the strategy.
The new strategy launch follows the news that Loughborough University and ParalympicsGB have announced a new landmark partnership. To read more on this initiative, visit: