Rhonda Richardson Project Worker Armagh

1
Target Group People with Physical / Sensory
Disabilities
Rhonda Richardson (Project Worker)Armagh
Dungannon Health Action ZoneSouthern Health
Social Care Trust Northern IrelandTel 028 8778
9531
2
Background

• Context
• Fit 4 U Project is a partnership project,
  co-ordinated by Southern Health Social Care
  Trust, Armagh Dungannon Health Action Zone.
• Funded initially by Big Lottery Fund for 18
  months and now funded until Mar 09 by Southern
  Health Social Care Trust, Armagh City Dist
  Council and Dungannon South Tyrone Borough
  Council.
• Target Area and Physical Activity Levels
• Adults with physical / sensory disabilities from
  3 Resource Centres in Armagh / Dungannon area of
  Northern Ireland.
• Service users lead increasingly sedentary
  lifestyles.

3
Project Need

• People with physical disabilities tend to lead
  more sedentary
• lifestyles because of a complex range of
  barriers
• Physical Barriers
• Difficulties accessing leisure services and
  facilities
• Difficulties accessing transport
• Economic Barriers
• Lower income
• Social Barriers
• Social exclusion
• Negative attitudes of both service providers and
  people with disabilities about their
  ability/inability to do physical activity.
• Lack of support require guidance, personal care
• Personal Barriers
• Lack of awareness
• Concerns about personal safety
• Lack of confidence
• Physical activity not seen as a priority

4
Project Aim

• To implement a holistic programme to improve the
  health of people with physical and sensory
  disabilities, by introducing users of Willowbank,
  Station Road and Moy Resource Centres to a range
  of new physical activity and leisure
  opportunities and to address wider lifestyle
  issues.

5
Project Objectives

• To provide safe accessible physical activity
  opportunities, not currently available or
  normally difficult to access for people with
  physical/sensory disabilities.
• To increase levels of participation in physical
  activity.
• To improve the overall health and wellbeing.
• To promote wider health benefits of physical
  activity.
• To raise awareness among service providers of the
  needs of people with physical/sensory
  disabilities
• To arrange training for coaches, leisure centre
  staff and Resource Centre support workers.

6
Project Overview

• Fit 4 U is a partnership project, co-ordinated by
  Southern Health
• Social Care Trust, Armagh Dungannon Health
  Action Zone.
• Partners include Armagh City District Council,
  Dungannon South
• Tyrone Borough Council, Southern Investing For
  Health Partnership,
• Willowbank, Station Road and Moy Resource
  Centres.
• Project Promotion
• 3 Resource Centres specific target group
• Project Launch
• Posters / Leaflets
• Support Worker Staff / Fit 4 U Project Worker
• Focus Groups
• Project Steering Group
• Photographs / Press Releases
• Word of mouth among service users

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Project Overview

• Engaging Target Group
• Survey (March 05)
• Preliminary Research
• Focus Group sessions (Sept 06)
• Project Launch (Nov 06)
• Taster Session Programme (Oct 06 - May 07)
• Surveyed to identify activities enjoyed best
  (June 07)
• Structured Programmes / Special Events (to date)
• Partnership Approach
• Activities identified by service users
• Researched / co-ordinated by Project Worker in
  partnership with Centres
• Supported by expertise of Physiotherapy and
  Occupational Therapy.
• Steered by Project Steering Group.
• Closely monitored and evaluated, with significant
  service user input.

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Project Overview

• Physical Activity Setting
• Resource Centre
• Local Leisure Centre
• Outdoor activities (within and outside local
  area)
• Types of Physical Activities
• Boxercise - Yoga
  - Sailing
• Circuit Training - Tai Chi
  - Canoeing
• Fitness Suite - Armchair Aerobics
  - Climbing / Abseiling
• Dance - Fishing
  - Water Skiing
• Archery - Golf
  - Gliding
• Bowls - Walking
  - Off Road Driving
• Boccia - Cycling
  - Tandem Sky Diving
• New Age Kurling
  - Zip Wire

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Project Overview

• Why these types of activity?
• Target group identified activities they wanted to
  do
• Make activities as accessible and inclusive as
  possible.
• Inclusive Sports (e.g. Boccia, New Age Kurling)
• Adaptable Activities (e.g. Boxercise, Circuit
  Training, Archery)
• Activities for most complex needs (e.g. Tai Chi,
  Yoga)
• Activities more suitable for sensory disability
  (e.g. Climbing, Cycling)
• Outdoor activities extremely popular (e.g.
  Walking, Golf)
• How often participants engage in activities
• At least once a week - 3 to 4 activities
  scheduled per wk between 3 Centres
• How long project is running
• 2 years and currently funded until March 2009.

10
Project Evaluation

• Total Number engaged in project 113 service
  users
• Outcomes
• Weekly activities for service users
• Promotion of social inclusion and community
  integration
• Empowerment of service users in identifying own
  health needs
• Improved access to a range of activities
• Legacy for Centres new contacts, equipment and
  staff training
• Training for Leisure Services staff
• People with disabilities have
• participated in a new activities they had not
  imagined possible.
• experienced physical, mental and social health
  benefits
• raised awareness of their needs among service
  providers, been involved in consultation
  established improved relationship with Leisure
  Services

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Project Evaluation

• Evidence of Effectiveness
• PARTICIPATION (31st Oct 2006 31st Oct 2008)
• Total Number Activity Sessions 365
• Number Taster Activities 89
• Number Structured Programmes 53
• Cumulative Participation 2321
• Statistical Results from Service User Evaluation
  Questionnaires
• 93 extremely or very satisfied with quality and
  delivery of activities.
• 92 indicated activities were extremely or very
  enjoyable.
• 87 indicated activities were extremely or very
  beneficial to health.
• 85 rated the tutor or coach as excellent.
• 98 indicated they would like to do the
  activities again.
• 99 indicated their needs had been suitably
  provided for.

12
Project Evaluation

• Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority
  (NI)
• Cited as an example of good practice and service
  user involvement
• Focus Group Evaluation Nov 2007
• Overall, service users indicated Fit 4 U activity
  sessions have been extremely beneficial and
  enjoyable.
• Recommendations included
• More joint activities between 3 Centres
• Outdoor activities
• Continue person centred approach

13
Project Evaluation

• Key Challenges
• Personal fears of service users
• Physical activity not considered a priority
• Fears of support worker staff
• Fears of tutors / service providers
• Availability of staff time to support service
  users
• Diverse range of disabilities within each group
• Lack of support outside Centre to continue
  participation
• Transport
• Interpretation for Deaf
• Sustainability of Project

14
Project Evaluation

• Why successful in engaging Target Group?
• Project is SERVICE USER driven
• service users have and continue to be involved
  at every stage of project.
• Commitment to PARTNERSHIP WORKING
• Fit 4 U Project demonstrates what can be
  achieved through Health
• Service, Local Government and Community working
  in partnership.
• Range of Physical Activities
• Activities for everyone thrill seekers those
  with most complex needs.
• Variety of Settings
• Within Resource Centre, Leisure Centres and
  Outdoors.

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Costs / Funding

• Original Funding (18 months Aug 06 to Mar 08)
  Approx 50,000
  
• Big Lottery - 30,000
  
• Armagh Dungannon Health Action Zone - 20,000
• Costs Included
  
  
• Salary - project worker
  
  
• Transport - participant travel
• Activity Costs - venue hire, tuition fees
• Training leisure services training
• Promotional posters, leaflets, press releases
• Capital sporting equipment
• Partnership Funding April 08 to Mar 09 -
  35,000
• Contributions from Armagh City District
  Council, Dungannon South Tyrone Borough Council
  and Southern Health Social Care Trust.
• Costs to Service Users Participant fee
  
  

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Sustainability
Business Proposal Southern Health Social
Services Board Southern Health Social Care
Trust has submitted a Business Proposal is to be
submitted to Southern Health Social Services
Board Proposal is to establish a 3 year project,
based on the original concept of the Fit 4 U
Project, to support and deliver a range of
leisure options for those with physical / sensory
disabilities in all localities across SHSCT.


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Recommendations

• Service User Involvement
• Continual engagement at every stage
• 2. Partnership working between stakeholder
  organisations
• Health, Local Government, Community, Service
  Users
• Project Steering Group
• Expertise of all partners, direct links within
  organisations and with service users

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Photographs

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Photographs