Disability sports charity Activity Alliance has called on political parties to commit to giving disabled people "equal opportunities to live full and active lives".
Publishing its own manifesto ahead of the 12 December General Election, the charity (previously known as the English Federation of Disability Sport) published five asks for parties to consider.
These are for the next government to:
- 1. Boost cross-department government collaboration
- 2. Make sport and leisure bodies responsible
- 3. Address disabled people’s fears of losing benefits
- 4. Ensure collaboration for greater health and wellbeing outcomes
- 5. Inspire future generations through inclusive PE and school sport
In the manifesto, the charity says that the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport should insist that the strategies of all sport and leisure bodies are inclusive of disabled people in relation to programmes, performance pathway and workforce. And that any public funding must meet the organisation’s needs to include and support disabled people to take part at all levels.
In terms of PE and school sport, the manifesto states that all children need to be given the same meaningful opportunity to take part in sport, as a young person’s experiences at school has a significant impact on how active they are in adult life.
"Disabled people are twice as likely to be inactive," the charity said in a statement.
"The 12 December General Election is a perfect opportunity for political parties to commit to giving disabled people the same opportunities to live full and active lives."
• To read the Activity Alliance manifesto in full,
click here.
