High Park School in Heaton is a specialist school for pupils aged 3-19 with communication and interaction difficulties, severe learning difficulties, autism and associated sensory processing needs, there are currently over 100 pupils attending the school.
The school are raising money for a Recreation project at the school to provide leisure, play and sports activities including football during the school holidays, the majority of pupils require a level of care far in excess of any mainstream setting with one to one support being a common requirement and the cost of running activities and clubs outside of education are very expensive with little no or no funding available.
To raise the much needed funds a number of teachers and parents will participate in “The Long March” which is a 26.2 miles walk around a planned route across Calderdale starting midnight Sunday (16th April), finishing 10:00am Monday (17th April).
Hundreds of people #walkthewalk' for their chosen charity or good cause.
There are many additional barriers to participation in football and sport for people with disabilities.
Bradford City Football Club Community Foundation provide short breaks sessions each week and work in a number of specialist school settings to ensure as many children can participate in football coaching sessions.
The provision does not extend to individualised care or travel support to enable children to access the sessions, however, so we rely on this support from the settings, such as High Park School.
If anyone is interested in getting involved and supporting more children to access football you can join the walkers, it’s no too late to sign up, or donate to recognise those already walking, for more details www.longmarch.org.uk.