South Norfolk Council - Fantastic Deaftastics!

Added: 19/09/2007
Category: South Norfolk Council

South Norfolk Council's new sports club for children with hearing impairments got off to a fantastic start at the weekend.

The Norfolk Deaf Society was approached by the council with the idea of setting up a multi-sports club for the children after it discovered few specialist sports clubs available for them.

The society put the idea to the children, who backed it enthusiastically and chose the new club's name - Deaftastics.

On Saturday at Framingham Earl Community Sports Centre, 10 deaf children, and their brothers and sisters got together with parents for an hour and a half of fencing, badminton and rounders.

Councillor Michael Windridge, the Cabinet Member for Tourism, Heritage, Enterprise and Culture attended the event and gave the club enthusiastic backing.

He said:

"It really was a fantastic occasion. Watching children acquiring the intricacies of fencing skills, assisted by their sign language proficient coaches, was an uplifting experience. I am determined to learn how many children in South Norfolk have serious hearing impairments so that we can help them take greater advantage of sport and leisure opportunities throughout the District. I believe any local authority, as part of its social contract, has a special responsibility towards young people with disabilities."

There are six more club sessions planned at Framingham Earl Community Sports centre.

The next one is Saturday September 29 when they will be joined by Laura Wiseman, who plays for the National Deaf Ladies Football Team.

Then on October 13, featuring Zone Hockey, October 27 Tri-golf, November 10 athletics, November 24 badminton and December 15, a Christmas special.

The club is a seven-week pilot project for the council. If it is a success, the council plans to expand the idea into Harleston and Wymondham setting up two further clubs, this time covering different disabilities.

In the meantime, the parents of the children in Deaftastics will take over the club's organisation, while the council continues to provide the support needed in key areas like finding specialist trainers and coaches, booking venues and helping to develop the club.

South Norfolk Council developed the club idea working closely with the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) Project Team at Norfolk County Council.