A plea to churches to make their 2012 Games activities welcoming for those with disabilities and learning difficulties has come from More Than Gold, the agency set up to help churches respond to the London Olympics and Paralympics.

The plea comes with a practical checklist including the need for ‘step-free’ access, offering disabled parking spaces, supplying written information in large print and perhaps even appointing a named contact to ‘champion’ issues and initiate training on disability.

Ian Richards, Chair of the More Than Gold Paralympic Committee said, ‘Both the government and LOCOG have stated that they intend to use the 2012 Games to set new standards in public attitudes and accessibility, as well as accelerate the pace of change in the UK’s approach to the disabled. The challenge for the church is to match this aim. This check list is designed to help in that objective’.

Churches are encouraged to not only use this checklist in relation to their events linked with the Games but also in every aspect of church life.

Ian added, ‘With around 10 million people in the UK classified as having a disability, it is time for churches to make them more welcome and more able to contribute their God-given gifts’.

For more information and free resources go to morethangold.org.uk/free-resources