This article forms part of a series of reports which accompany the 2023-24 BF Annual Report.
BF’s Project and Programme work, primarily funded by Sport England, delivers to identified under-represented groups in a series of agreed projects.
2023-24 Highlights
Strategic Background
Our Project and Programme work is primarily funded by Sport England and delivers to identified under-represented groups in a series of agreed projects to meet outcomes agreed with Sport England. These outcomes are aligned with the BF objectives to deliver accessible inclusive swordplay opportunities delivered via partnership programmes (objective 3) and maximise the wider benefits of fencing and the positive impact it can have on people’s lives (objective 5).
Fencing For Change, ASD partnership with Change Foundation
Fencing 4 Change is a programme delivered in partnership with the Change Foundation that uses fencing to improve physical literacy and reduce the risk of social isolation for young people aged 11 – 16 with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Using insights and learnings from the pilot that started in 2022, the partnership has worked together to develop a 24 week schools programme, delivered in six schools to approximately 60 young people. The research has shown that for the young people involved in the 24 week project:
In September 2023, Daniel Mynott from the Change Foundation and BF’s Inclusion Officer Rick Rodgers, delivered a webinar to share learnings from the project with the fencing community as part of BF Learning Week 2023.
Future plans include a Fencing For Change event in May 2024, as well as securing funding to upscale the project across the UK.
Muslim Girls Fence
During 2023-24, Muslim Girls Fence focused on retention and capacity-building with existing projects across Birmingham, Bradford and London, as well as continued delivery in schools.
For the third year, Muslim Girls Fence was invited to take part in Eid in the Square, an annual festival held in London’s Trafalgar Square to celebrate the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting. In April 2023, coaches from Muslim Girls fence delivered taster sessions to approximately 300 young people, as well as sharing information on how people can get involved with the sport.
In September 2023, two youth led mental health resources for schools were launched, one in the form of a zine, which provides advice on how to improve wellbeing, containing advice and exercises around health, identity, empowerment and creativity. The zine sits alongside the second resource, a film Centring Muslim Girls Mental Wellbeing in Schools. The film was co-directed and written by a group of students from Tower Hamlets to discuss the importance of having creative, physical, and safe spaces like Muslim Girls Fence in schools, that focus on their wellbeing and mental health. During BF Learning Week 2023 in September, the team delivered a webinar to discuss the resources in more detail and share how clubs and coaches can get involved.
Community projects in Birmingham and Bradford have continued to evolve to meet the needs of the women and girls in their communities. In November 2023, around 30 women and girls came together in Birmingham to take part in a day of fencing activities, finishing with a GB League event, supported by students from the University of Nottingham Fencing Club who assisted with refereeing, as well as acting as sparring partners throughout the day.
Increasing Access and Opportunities to people with Disabilities
In 2023-24, based on the recommendations made in the Level Access Survey undertaken in early 2023, we have worked to:
To provide clubs and coaches with useful information to support them in making their clubs inclusive for disabled fencers, the Disability 101 section on the BF website was developed which includes ‘Disability Top Tips’ and an ‘Accessible Venues’ checklist.
In May 2023 BF announced that the 2024 Wheelchair Fencing World Cup would be hosted in Cardiff, Wales, in partnership with UK Sport and the Welsh Government. This announcement provided an exciting opportunity to raise the profile of the sport and use it as a springboard to promote wheelchair fencing across the UK.
During 2023-24, with the support of coaches from the World Class Programme and Wheelpower, a CPD course suitable for coaches on the BF Coach Register wanting to expand their skills and have an introduction to wheelchair coaching was developed. Twelve BF Coach Developers from across the UK attended a training weekend at the University of Bath and are ready for deployment from April 2024 onwards.
Linked to the development of the CPD and the hosting of the World Cup, the wheelchair fencing loan scheme was launched. Post the World Cup, over 20 wheelchair fencing frames were distributed for free to clubs across England, Wales and Scotland and with the development of a new club fencing wheelchair through RMA Sport, clubs will be equipped with the equipment and skills to adapt and encourage more people with disabilities to take part in the sport.
Click here for the full 2023-24 Annual Report.
Don’t miss the latest news. Subscribe to our weekly summary email, The Fencing Digest, featuring the previous week’s latest news and announcements. Sign up here.
Sign up to receive regular highlights from the exciting world of fencing - celebrating the best of our unique and inspiring community
