News | PORTLAND SPECIAL SCHOOL
The University of Sunderland is playing a big part in the development of sporting opportunities for school children, with one scheme in particular proving a big success.
A partnership has been established with Portland Special School in Sunderland, in order to give groups with special needs the chance to take part in physical activity with the help from the university.
Portland Special School houses children with mixed special needs and moderate learning difficulties and with the help of the university and its sports students, the children have the opportunity to take part in activities such as gym sessions, football, basketball and badminton.
Elaine Dixon, a teacher from Portland, is extremely grateful to the university and thinks the scheme is great for the kids.
She said: “When the University approached us with the idea, we couldn’t turn it down, as it was too good of an opportunity for the kids to miss out on. It gives them a chance to try sports and activities they’ve never had the opportunity to do before and helps to improve their social skills and fitness.”
Elaine also thinks that the university working in the community of Sunderland is a brilliant idea and hopes the partnership they have will continue to be a big success.
She added: “The parents think it’s absolutely fantastic that the university is giving something back to the community and giving their children the chance to do things they thought they never could.
The children enjoy it so much that they keep asking us if they can go more regularly, its great to see them so enthusiastic about doing all these activities.”
Article by Steph Clark, SUNEE journalism Scholar at Sunderland University
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