One legacy of the 2012 Paralympics is the dramatic rise in the number of people seeking to participate in sports and join clubs. However, many clubs continue to face difficulties in attracting qualified coaches, running tournaments, assisting children in low-income homes and, in some cases, getting started. Staff in our Birmingham office chose disability sport as their office charity for 2011 – 2013 with a specific goal of helping to alleviate some of these enduring problems.

We have given money from our regional charity fund to support a local fencing club, helping to set up a new facility at Birmingham University supporting training for local wheelchair fencers, one of whom went on to compete in London 2012.

But the biggest impact we have had has been through our Community Games, now in its third year. The Deloitte Community games offers children from local schools the chance to take part in five Paralympic Sports and provides a platform to promote disability sport, not just special schools but also mainstream schools. To date, 435 children from 30 schools have participated with the support of 7 sports clubs and 99 Deloitte volunteers.

And, since the Community Games are organised and run by Deloitte staff volunteers there is an exceptionally high degree of staff engagement. Their enthusiasm and commitment mean that our message percolates out to our colleagues and clients through meetings and communications further raising the profile of disability sport.