Children with special educational needs and disabilities were given the chance to try their hand at cricket recently.
 
Kwik Cricket is a short form of the sport that provides an ideal and fun introduction for children.
 
The Department of Education and Children’s Sports Development Unit organised festivals that allowed 90 children with special needs and disabilities to put bat to ball or test their dexterity at bowling or fielding.
 
Prior to the festivals, Manx Sport and Recreation’s community coaches laid on Kwik Cricket training sessions for pupils in primary and secondary special education needs units.
 
Zoe Carney, Disability Sports Development Officer with the DEC, said: ‘Kwik Cricket allows children to develop fundamental skills that can be nurtured and developed. Kwik Cricket is part of the wider Disability Sports Programme that is run for primary and secondary pupils across the Island and these festivals give children the opportunity to compete and socialise with other schools in a fun and friendly environment.’
 
Ongoing support from Barclays Wealth and Investment Management has allowed the Sports Development Unit to purchase specialised sporting equipment that ensures all training sessions and festivals are made fully inclusive to all children.