20,000 euros for inclusive projects in the Borken district

The "Westenergie VEREINt Menschen und fördert Inklusion" initiative supported clubs in the Borken district that are committed to integrating people with disabilities into club life.

Of the total of €20,000, which was divided into ten €2,000 prizes, several went to clubs in Bocholt. The winners were selected by a jury made up of members of the Borken e. V. district sports association and Westenergie, who presented the prizes at the Münster regional centre.

"We are very proud of the Bocholt clubs that are actively committed to inclusion and diversity", says Björn Volmering, First City Councillor and Head of Social Affairs for the City of Bocholt. "These awards show that commitment and passion are very important in our community. Our clubs make a valuable contribution to ensuring that people with disabilities can participate in club life on an equal footing", says Volmering.

Mike Kreuzer from Kreissportbund Borken e. V. emphasises the importance of this initiative: "Inclusion should be more in the public eye. Clubs that are committed to inclusion deserve our support."

Katja Prahs, Municipal Manager at Westenergie in the Borken district, also emphasises the role of inclusion: "All people should be able to participate in the wide range of club activities in the Borken district. That's why we specifically support such projects."

The following Bocholt clubs were among the award winners:

• TuS Stenern 1955 e. V.: Development of the inclusion wheelchair basketball group "TuS Stenern Sky Wheelers".
• B.V. Borussia Bocholt 1960 e. V.: Development of a ball sports group for children with trisomy 21 (Down syndrome).
• Chess club Bocholt 1926 e. V.: Purchase of DGT chess boards to enable physically impaired members to play from home.
• SC T.u.B. Mussum 1926 e. V.: Introduction of an inclusive drumming programme that creates opportunities for children and people with disabilities to meet.

Other honoured clubs from the Borken district are

• Gescher Youth Fire Brigade (Gescher Town Fire Brigade Association): Purchase of tablets with a read-aloud function for learning documents and service protocols in order to better integrate a member with a disability and to be able to include other people with disabilities in the future.
• Association for integrative horse riding: Hof Börger e. V. - Expansion of various inclusive equestrian sports programmessuch as hippotherapy in disabled sports with a qualified trainer.
• TuS Velen 1925 e. V.: Additional equipment for the shooting range for joint archery for disabled and non-disabled people.
  
• Gescher local history association: Information boards with QR codes on historical buildings lead to text and image files and thus ensure barrier-free language access.
  
• Music school Vreden e. V.: Expansion of inclusive instrumental work with coloured sound sticks and Veeh harp for impaired children and adults to enablesimplified musical accompaniment and sound exploration.
  
• VfL Ramsdorf e. V. 1936: Introduction of motopedagogical trampolining: a special exercise programme that strengthensmotor skills, body awareness and self-confidence.