19 Jul 2018

Sensory sport sensations supports children and young people, clubs and schools

Sensory sport sensations supports children and young people, clubs and schools news article image

About 

Bristol Bears Community Foundation is a not for profit award-winning charity, delivering programmes?proven?to change the lives of people across the region. The registered charity works with over 10,000?people?from the local community?each year. Current programmes involved supporting children and young people, clubs and schools. 

Impact 

After discovering there was a real lack of specialist sport input into schools, Bristol Bears Community Foundation carried?out a needs analysis and?launched an innovative?programme introducing sport to young people with severe sensory impairments and multiple learning difficulties. Using sound, touch, sight and action, the Sensory Sport Sensations programme introduces basic concepts of rugby, basketball and football to two groups of children at New Fosseway special school in Bristol.? 

The programme is?being piloted at a handful of special schools in Bristol and aims to?engage a wider range of participants across the city in meaningful rugby participation, development and competition.?Going into schools with special needs and delivering the programme has?really?helped to support teachers who have seen a real?benefit from?the young children that have taken part. 

The programme requires three special sports packs (rugby, football and basketball) costing close to £500 each, with the end goal to make sure every special and disability school in Bristol has a pack of their own. All packs also incorporate physical interaction from support staff and musical tracks.

The packs include;

  • Rugby – rugby balls, ribbon rings, TheraBand
  • Football – footballs, hand clappers
  • Basketball – foam LED tunes, plastic hoops and attached nets, boom sticks.

The Sensory Sport Sensations programme is part of their Spectrum project delivered across Bristol and South Gloucestershire in partnership with Premiership Rugby and Comic Relief. Working with special schools and specialist centres across the Greater Bristol area, Spectrum works with over 250 young people and adults per week with special educational needs and disabilities, delivering schools PE, outreach and CPD sessions. 

To find out more information about the programme, please click here

If you have a case study which highlights how you've positively engaged with your local area, please get in touch with?aburgess@sportandrecreation.org.uk

Latest News

23 Jul 2026

Alliance responds to business rates announcement

The Government has announced that pubs, clubs and live music venues are set to receive a 20% reduction to their business rates bills from April next year.

Read more Arrow Right
14 Jul 2026

Sport and Recreation Alliance supports star-studded IWG Global Summit 2026

The Sport and Recreation Alliance was delighted to join over 900 delegates from around the world from 9-11 July, at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Birmingham, for the International Working Group (IWG) on Women & Sport Global Summit 2026.

Read more Arrow Right
2 Jun 2026

Sport, volunteering and the connection crisis: four perspectives

A joint contribution from the Sport and Recreation Alliance, /Together, Sport England and the Eden Project.

Read more Arrow Right

Become a member

Joining the Sport and Recreation Alliance is pretty simple, but worthwhile!

Register now

Our Partners

Admincontrol logoAir IT logoJMW logoSport:80 logoZellar logo93FT logo