Allianz has formed a partnership with Youth Sport Trust (YST), a national charity, to deliver 20 ‘Dare to Believe’ Festivals with more than 100 primary schools and over 2000 young people, to tackle attitudes and perceptions to special needs and disability among young people.
Held across the country, the festivals will enable young people with and without SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability) to experience inclusive sports and activities, alongside their SEND peers. Through this, the Dare to Believe Festivals hope to create shared experiences and help to develop friendships between young people, providing a real opportunity for schools and communities to promote inclusion and diversity.
Allianz’s Chief Executive Officer, Jon Dye said: “Building on our partnership with the British Paralympic Association, Allianz has partnered with the Youth Sport Trust to develop and deliver the Dare to Believe Festivals. We believe these festivals can challenge attitudes and perceptions to disability and special needs among young people and within their local communities, which is vital for inclusion.”
Ali Oliver, Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Sport Trust said: “We are excited to be working with Allianz on the Dare to Believe Festivals. Their passion for inclusion initiatives, combined with our experience of working with young people and using sport for positive change, means these festivals can motivate and inspire young people with and without additional support needs to take part in sport.”
Through the activities pupils will be encouraged to think about how inclusive they are on and off the playing field and how they can support everyone to feel included.
The festivals will have five ‘sport stations’ and one ‘breakout station’, meaning pupils can try a range of activities together as well as have time for informal play and form new friendships. Stations will be run by Youth Sport Trust Young Leaders from YST’s Lead Inclusion Schools, selected to lead the delivery of the sports, supported by their teacher and volunteers from Allianz.
For more information about the Dare to Believe festivals visit
www.youthsporttrust.org and see other information on Twitter #DaretoBelieve
