Call for more inclusive opportunities for disabled young people

At an event to showcase best and innovative practice in disability inclusion in youth work, Lord Mayor of London Alan Yarrow said more clubs should support disabled young people.

Yarrow, said: “Every 10 minutes, a family in the UK knows their child will live with a disability and yet many children, so often pushed to the margins, are not considered part of the mainstream. What rubbish – no one is outside or on the fringes of our society.
 
“I have huge admiration and respect for the youth workers who are constantly finding innovative ways to be inclusive.

“It couldn’t be more appropriate highlighting this important area of need, encouraging more youth clubs and children’s services to include disabled young people and showing them how to go about doing it, providing access to opportunities and experiences for all.”

The event, hosted by London Youth, City Bridge Trust, Children in Need and John Lyon’s Charity, was a chance to highlight how young people could shape and lead opportunities and inspire and inform practitioners to continue developing inclusion in all areas of their work.

Ciaran Rafferty, principal grants officer at City Bridge Trust, praised the event for helping youth organisations to share best practice.

He said: “By showcasing organisations which deliver high-quality inclusive youth work and can demonstrate what is possible, we shared best practice among a number of local youth organisations throughout London.”