The Ripple Effect

26 August 2022

Project funded by – Spirit of 2012

In March 2022, Swim England received funding from Spirit of 2012 to deliver an innovative project in partnership with National Disability Sports Organisations (NDSOs), with the aim of encouraging greater involvement of disabled individuals in aquatic volunteering.

Adopting a test-and-learn approach, the project aimed to identify and remove barriers to participation, develop inclusive volunteering practices and share valuable insights with the broader sporting community.

At its heart, the Ripple Effect is about embedding inclusion into the very culture of volunteering; bringing disabled and non-disabled people together to contribute meaningfully, side by side. This initiative was designed not only to create immediate impact, but to inspire long-term change.

To ensure the momentum continues, resources such as the Ripple Effect report and the Good Club Guide: Engaging Disabled Volunteers have been developed to support clubs in building welcoming, inclusive environments. By promoting openness, adaptability and a genuinely inclusive mindset, tools like this empower clubs to engage individuals who may not have previously considered volunteering; helping the ripple grow ever wider.

Click the buttons below to access the resources.

Testimonials

A few words from one of our National Disability Sports Organisation, WheelPower on working on the Ripple Effect with Swim England.

“We are incredibly pleased to be included among the NDSOs working with Swim England on such an innovative and forward-thinking project, one that will undoubtedly highlight the barriers and challenges faced by disabled volunteers wanting to progress through the volunteering pathway.

That being said, the opportunity that this presents to demonstrate how barriers can be overcome and challenges met head-on through broader thinking, inclusive practices, and strong collaboration is a truly exciting prospect.

This project has the potential to create immense value, most notably a huge shift in people’s perceptions of disability. This is pioneering work, and we are thrilled to be a part of it.”

Special Olympics GB is excited to partner with Swim England and National Disability Sport Organisations to deliver The Ripple Effect project.

The Ripple Effect is a fantastic opportunity for us to be involved in developing more accessible volunteering pathways with and for people with intellectual disabilities. For the intellectual disability community this is one of many volunteering and participation initiatives that we will be involved with to ensure we support our mission of being inclusive, accessible, diverse, unified and create a sense of belonging.

‘CP Sport has been encouraging people with cerebral palsy to participate in swimming for many years and hosts a national swimming championships annually for swimmers with cerebral palsy.

CP Sport is looking forward to working with Swim England on The Ripple Effect volunteering programme. We think it a wonderful opportunity for people with cerebral palsy to receive training to support areas within swimming of their choice, develop new skills and make new friends whilst contributing to the development of swimming in England.’