There are more than 185 projects happening across our six Inspire themes in Yorkshire and the Humber.
Inspire people
June Chivers, Fibrogames
The Fibrogames are a series of sport and activity festivals for people suffering from Fibromyalgia, a medical disorder characterised by chronic widespread pain, and allodynia, a heightened and painful response to pressure. June designs the events to stimulate both mind and body and gets great feedback from her participants.
How was your project inspired by the Games?
I wanted to have a ‘one-stop-shop’ for newly diagnosed sufferers of Fibromyalgia,to avoid them suffering as I did through medical ignorance and misdiagnosis. The Games are a catalyst for getting involved and we have tried to harness the spirit of the Games in our own Fibrogames.
What does it mean to you to be an Inspire mark project?
All of our group members are so very proud to be part of the Inspire programme. It has raised our profile and awareness far beyond our expectations. We will continue to use the Inspire mark as an excellent way of raising our profile.
What are you most proud of?
My team and their new-found willingness to try anything!
Inspire projects
Girls in the Ring
Project organiser: Lee Karen Stow, photographer
Theme: Culture
On Saturday mornings and weekday nights, down at the local boxing gyms of Yorkshire, girls and women are in gloves. Some box to keep fit or to lose weight. Some box for confidence and to build self-esteem. Some box for self-defence, or to let out aggression in a controlled way. And some box because they are good at it. They want to win.
The boxers are schoolgirls and mothers, solicitors and students, from all walks of life and with various reasons for wanting to go in the ring. All have a passion for a sport that embodies skill, technique, hard work and discipline. Girls in the Ring is a photographic exhibition that shows what girls are capable of.
At London 2012, for the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, women will be allowed to compete in the boxing ring. This historic decision shows how far women’s boxing has come. According to the Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAE) the number of registered female members (including boxers, coaches and officials) in the ABAE has risen from 50 in 2005 to 868, and there are approximately 16,000 females aged 16 years and over who participate in boxing in some form. Almost 40 per cent of boxing gyms in England have classes that specifically cater for women and girls.
Inspiring Volunteers
Project organiser: Rotherham United Community Sports Trust
Project theme: Volunteering
Rotherham United Community Sports Trust (RUCST) is running a two-year project to engage young people in volunteering, enabling them to develop skills in sport and thereby building the capacity of delivery of grassroots sports in communities.
Matthew Burrows’ story exemplifies what RUCST set out to achieve. When Matthew commenced volunteering with RUCST he took part in more than 55 hours of voluntary work in only one month. His passion for volunteering and sport shone through. He was so passionate about giving back to the community that while pursuing a career in sport he made the difficult and brave decision to quit his part-time job to volunteer on a full-time basis.
Due to Matthew’s massive contribution as a volunteer and continued commitment, he was awarded a place on an Apprenticeship Programme where he has the chance to gain an NVQ level 2 in coaching, teaching and instructing. This is massive testament to his dedication and shows what a difference volunteering can make to the community and a person’s life.
For more information contact the Inspire Programmer in Yorkshire
