Inaugural AoC Sport Inclusion Hub colleges chosen

We are pleased to announce 12 colleges have been successful in their applications to become AoC Sport Inclusion Hubs. AoC Sport has introduced Inclusion Hubs in colleges for the first time this year. The hubs will play a vital role in achieving AoC Sport’s vision of ‘every student active’ and will be recognised in the sport, physical activity and further education sectors as being proactive in ensuring all disabled students have access to the same opportunities as their non-disabled peers. The hubs are expected to engage 50 students in sport and physical activity as well as recruiting eight Inclusive Ambassadors and hosting a local development opportunity for other colleges in their region. Alongside this, the hubs will form a national network to share best practice and ideas of how they have successfully engaged disabled students. Shannon Howarth, AoC Sport Disability Development Officer, said: ‘I’m really excited to launch this programme and to be able to offer bespoke support to the selected colleges. "The selection process was very competitive with many colleges applying which is a credit to the sector and colleges' commitment to making sport and physical activity inclusive for disabled students. "Our disability and inclusion offer for colleges has grown over the last few years and we see the inclusion hubs as our next step to ensuring we reach our vision of ‘every student active’." The 12 successful colleges are:

College Region Milton Keynes College East Loughborough College East Midlands Sense College East Midlands New City College Redbridge campus London Orchard Hill College London Sunderland College North East Preston's College North West HSDC South East SGS College South West Royal National College for the Blind West Midlands Birmingham Metropolitan College West Midlands North Lindsey College Yorkshire and Humber

In return, the inclusion hubs will receive bespoke support from the AoC Sport Disability Development Officer, a free Activity Alliance Inclusive Activity Programme course to upskill their inclusive ambassadors and staff, alongside £250 funding and many other benefits. AoC Sport is currently working alongside a range of partners from the disability sector to create a learning and development programme from lead staff at the inclusion hubs. Alongside the hubs, AoC Sport will also be launching a pledge campaign for the next academic year. Colleges will be able to pledge to do something to become more inclusive. More details to follow. Find out more about this area of work on the disability page.