Rugby star helps children get into Paralympic spirit

Along with the Mayor of Greenwich Cllr Jim Gillman, Andy cheered on as students from Charlton School for children with special needs and Charlton Manor primary school took part in a festival of inclusive sports such as boccia, new age kurling, polybat and goal ball.

Hosted by Charlton School, the event saw disabled and able-bodied children taking part together in a range of sports.

Andy Barrow, member and former captain of the GB Paralympic rugby team, and Cllr Gillman presented medals to the winners in each event.

Cllr Gillman said, “The Paralympic Games, which Greenwich is helping to host next year, are helping put a new spotlight on sports that haven’t previously been seen as mainstream. Events like this do a great deal to encourage awareness and participation, and it was very inspiring to see such enthusiasm from the children taking part.”

Neal Collard, PE teacher at Charlton School, who helped coordinate the event, said, “This was a great chance for the school to work with a local primary school in introducing the children to a range of inclusive sports. It’s something we certainly aim to build on for the future with local mainstream schools, as the London Paralympics get closer.”

The Paralympic sports event at Charlton School is believed to be the biggest sports event in the borough to date in which disabled and able-bodied children have taken part together. PE staff from Charlton School will next year be taking their pupils into mainstream secondary and primary schools, introducing students to inclusive sports such as boccia and seated volleyball. It is all part of a longer-term project supported by Greenwich Council to improve physical education and school sport for disabled young people in mainstream and special schools – both in the run-up to the 2012 Paralympic Games and beyond.