Super 1s is a cricket-based programme run throughout Wiltshire, giving young people with disabilities the opportunity to play cricket regularly. The aim of the programme is to use cricket as a tool for participant’s personal development, equipping them with a variety of personal, social and transferable skills that can be taken into a variety of different situations.
Super 1s sessions are run on a weekly basis, for around 1 hour in the evenings incorporating a series of different activities developing throwing, catching and ball striking skills. During these sessions participants get the opportunity to try new activities, meet new people and explore new environments.
To ensure the development of our participants, Super 1s offers additional workshops that will occasionally take place within Wiltshire’s hub network (hubs in Swindon, Chippenham and Salisbury). Workshops are usually run during half-term and are a fantastic opportunity to learn key life skills and experience travelling to new places, trying new things and meeting new people from different Super 1s Hub’s.
Festivals are also a key component of our Super 1s offer, where all hubs will be brought together in a large-scale festival event, giving each participant the opportunity to make new friends and familiarise themselves with new settings. Within festivals participants will take part in larger-scale games and activities where all hubs will be encouraged to mix and work together.
Why Super 1s?
The Super 1s programme is vital due to the imbalance of disability provision currently available when compared to mainstream provision. Super 1s gives those with impairments an opportunity to get involved in an inclusive sporting environment, with a range of benefits. Super 1s provides a platform for individuals to learn sport-specific and wider social skills that will benefit them in multiple different environments. By working with our participants, we believe that as a result of Super 1s they will be better equipped to deal with life’s challenges whether that be in environments such as the classroom all the way through to employment.
Super 1s provides a fantastic opportunity to meet new people from different schools and communities. This is particularly important for individuals with impairments as they have been found to be at a greater risk of suffering from loneliness when compared to those without impairments. Bringing these individuals together in one place gives them an opportunity to interact through cricket and create bonds that go beyond Super 1s.
For more information email harry.mattingley@wiltshirecricket.co.uk, call 07923 236489 or visit www.lordtaverners.org.
