MORE than 50 youngsters with profound and multiple learning disabilities from special schools in York and across North Yorkshire competed in a sports festival at York’s Energise centre.

Organised by two School Sports Partnerships – Ebor and Sports Special – the youngsters took part in Boccia, which is similar to boules, and kurling, where kurling stones are propelled along the floor to a target or released down a ramp ensuring wheelchair users can also compete.

Other activities included table-top games like polybat and table cricket, floor lacrosse, basketball and football.

York special school Hob Moor Oaks fielded two teams and were joined by Forest, Dales, Welburn Hall and Springwater with one young pupil joining in from Rufforth Primary.

Said Val French of the Ebor Special Schools Partnership: “This was a fantastic opportunity for these youngsters to not only experience an element of competition but more importantly to socialise with other young people in a safe and friendly environment.

“Staff commented on what a positive effect it had on their young people, some of whom struggled in school.”

French also praised the “fantastic” support from the sports leaders from Holy Family School, Carlton, in Selby.

They travelled to Energise to help run the event and experience working with young people with a disability.

But French added a warning how such activities could fade in the wake of government-imposed cuts to all national funding to the Youth Sports Trust, which funds all the School Sports Partnerships across the country.

Said French: “Without pressure on the government to keep these in place, this will not only see opportunities such as this seriously diminish but will impact on the health and well-being of all our young people.”