While we cover inclusive provision in each of our leisure categories we list here a number of UK organisations that advise and cater specifically for disabled people, providing information on local sports groups, offering drop-in resource centres, developing the range of facilities for disabled people in the arts.

ORGANISATIONS DEVOTED MAINLY TO THE ARTS:

Action for Leisure (website launches soon)
C/o Warwickshire College
Moreton Morrell Centre
Moreton Morrell
Warwickshire
CV35 9BL
Telephone:
Fax:

Formerly PLANET, Action for Leisure provides a range of services for disabled people. These include: 

• ‘On my Doorstep’ – a three year project to compile a database of local leisure information   
• A reference library   
• A resource centre   
• A multi-sensory room   
• An outreach programme including conferences and training opportunities

The Arts Council of England/Scotland/Wales/Northern Ireland

The Arts Councils are independent, non-political organisations. Each one is responsible for the development and funding of the arts in their respective part of the United Kingdom.There is a policy at the Councils that funding is only granted to organisations that operate an equal opportunities policy, making their facilities available to people of all abilities. The Arts Council of England produce an ‘Arts and Disability’ directory of UK organisations, costing £5 and available from the publications department.

Arts Council of England
14 Great Peter St
London SW1P 3NQ
Tel:
Fax:

There are two disability officers at the Arts Council of England, one dealing with matters of legislation and issues of access in the arts. The other role is one of advocacy, encouraging the exhibition of disabled artists. The Council run a Fellowship Programme, placing disabled people in arts organisations. Other programmes are in development. Your point of contact is the policy officer for disability in the arts on (policy unit).

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland
MacNeice House
77 Malone Rd
Belfast BT9 6AQ
Telephone:
Fax:
E-mail: publicaffairs

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland publish an ‘Arts and Disability Handbook’, which is available free of charge by telephoning the Council or from the website. Your point of contact at the Council is the Development Officer, who deals with issues of arts and disability. 

The Arts Council of Wales
Holst House
9 Museum Place
Cardiff CF1 3NX;
Telephone:
Fax: .
E-mail: information 

The Arts Council of Wales produces an Equal Opportunities Pack incorporating information on arts and disability strategy and is available from the Access Development Division. The Council fund a number of projects, including Hijinx, a drama group who aim to make theatre accessible to disabled people of all ages.

The Arts Council of Wales has an additional site, Arts and Young People, featuring information on getting young people involved in the arts at all levels, national and local.

The Scottish Arts Council
12 Manor Place
Edinburgh EH3 7DD
Telephone:
Minicom:
Fax: .
E-mail: help.desk.sac 

The Scottish Arts Council doesn’t have a designated officer to deal with disability but the helpdesk can inform you of specific policy. They also produce a factsheet listing disability organisations in Scotland, available from the helpdesk on request.

Arts Disability Wales
Chapter Arts Centre
Market Road
Canton
Cardiff CF5 1E
Telephone:
Fax:

Arts Disability Wales is an organisation funded by the Arts Council of Wales, which aims to foster equal opportunities for disabled people in all spheres of the arts in Wales. It provides training opportunities for disabled people seeking employment in the arts; organises seminars and conferences on arts and disability issues; and gives information and advice on issues such as access to arts venues, arts projects and courses, models of good practice and funding sources.

The National Disability Arts Forum
Mea House
Ellison Place
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 8XS
Telephone:
Fax:

The National Disability Arts Forum was established to promote equal opportunities for disabled people in all aspects of life. NDAF is accountable to, controlled and managed by disabled people, and it supports the development of disability arts locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

The Family Fund Trust
P.O. Box 50
York Y01 2ZX
Telephone:
Fax:

An organisation that provides grants to help with the cost of leisure activities for families in which there is a severely handicapped child under the age of 16 years.

ORGANISATIONS DEVOTED MAINLY TO SPORTS:

English Federation of Disability Sport
Telephone:
Fax:
Minicom
E-mail: federation

The national body responsible for developing sport for disabled people in England, the Federation works with several national disability sports organisations to enact the premise that sport should be a right not a privilege for disabled people. Telephone or check the website for the address of your nearest office.

Disability Sport England
Unit 4G
784-788 High Road
Tottenham N17 0DA
Telephone:
Fax:
E-mail: info

Disability Sports Northern Ireland
Unit 10
Ormean Business Park
8 Cromac Avenue
Belfast BT7 2AJ
Telephone:
Fax:
E-mail: email 

Scottish Disability Sport
Fife Sports Institute
Viewfield Road
Glenrothes
KY6 2RB
Telephone:
Fax: 
E-mail: ssadsds 

Disability Sports Cymru
Welsh Institute of Sport
Sophia Gardens
Cardiff CF11 9SW
Telephone: /6
Fax:
E-mail: Fsad.wales 

The Disability Sport organisations promote the participation of disabled people in sport, making it accessible and enjoyable to all. Advice and information about local centres providing facilities for disabled people is available on request.

Limbless Association
Roehampton Rehabilitation Centre
Roehampton Lane
London SW15 5PR
Telephone:
Fax:
Danny Crates - SPORTS+ Officer
Tel:
E-mail: danny

The Limbless Association provides information, advice and support for people of all ages who are without one or more limbs. They run a SPORTS+ project, coordinating and maintaining activities for disabled people to participate in sports across the UK.

Scope Leisure Resource Centre
17 Clews Road
Oakenshaw
Redditch
Worcs B98 7ST
Telephone:

Part of Scope’s work is in the field of leisure making it possible for disabled people to enjoy games and other leisure activities through a calendar of special sporting events. It has a Leisure Resource Centre and an activity centre at Churchtown Farm in Cornwall. Primarily for people with Cerebral Palsy, the service is also available to people with any form of impairment.

UK Sports Association for People With Learning Disability
Ground Floor
Leroy House
436 Essex Road
London N1 3QP
Telephone:
Fax:

A coordinating body of sports associations catering for people with learning difficulties.

Leisure Links

For information on specific sport or arts activities, see the specific pages on our site. The relevant leisure links are as follows:

SPORTS

Skiing
Football
Rugby
Karate
Gymnastics
Swimming
Cricket
Tennis
Athletics

ARTS

Drama
Ballet
Music

For more information about what’s going on in your area, visit your Local Authority’s website. It can provide details on activities, attractions and services available to you and your family.