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Writer's picturePhil Packer

CPISRA European Championships medallist & National Champion, Claire Buckle, supports BRIT

We are delighted that Claire is part of our BRIT Ambassador family and is championing the annual BRIT Challenge to support and improve young adult and student mental health and fitness throughout the UK.

Claire is Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CPISRA) European Championship medallist, National Champion and National Junior Champion in both the Discus and Shot Put. Since retirement as an athlete, Claire has become a Consultant in Inclusivity and Ability; providing support to a wealth of organisations to ensure their services are open to all.


Claire was integral to BRIT forging a special relationship with NatSpec - the voice of specialist further education.

“Having lived with disability all my life, I am passionate about how disabled people can access the same opportunities as everyone. There are 13.9million disabled people in the UK which makes up of 22% of the overall population. As one of the 13.9million, I know how important it is to be fully included in society.


The British Inspiration Trust (BRIT) have been striving to support young adults with disabilities for many years and their vision is to support and improve the mental health and fitness of all students and young adults in the UK; there are 5million students in Higher and Further Education and BRIT are inviting every university and college in the UK to embrace their annual BRIT Challenges and enter teams to ensure all students and young adults are able to take part if they want to.


The BRIT 2021 Challenge has been designed as an inclusive feel-good fundraiser. It is not a sporting event and encourages students and staff of all abilities to participate. There are many fundraising activities and events aimed at students and young adults, however it is rare to see a UK-wide challenge that ensures social responsibility, inclusion, equality and diversity are at the core of their annual events.


BRIT are putting the needs of young adults and students at the heart of everything they do and I applaud the charity for its determination to collaborate and unite the charity education and sport sectors. BRIT are a visionary organisation and despite no funding from government or sports organisations, they are becoming a great example of how to forge partnerships and relationships and bring organisations and institutions together.


I am honoured to be a BRIT Ambassador and, in addition to supporting students at Manchester Metropolitan University and Runshaw College as they take on their challenge, will also champion this opportunity throughout the disability sector to ensure specialist schools and colleges are aware of the opportunity to enter teams.”


In May 1997, Claire started her athletics career at the age of 16 and six weeks later became the National record holder in both Discus and Shot Put and qualified for the National Championships.


In November 1997, Claire became a member of the England Cerebral Palsy Team.


Claire came 1st in both the Shot Put and Discus at the National Junior Championships in 1998 and 1999; she held the National Junior Records that stood for 15 years.


In 1998, Claire competed at the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CPISRA) European Championships in Nottingham. She came 2nd in the Discus and 3rd in the Shot Put (breaking new National Records in both).


Claire achieved the qualifying standard for the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games, however was not selected. She went on to compete at the 2001 CPISRA World Games in Nottingham and came 3rd in both the Discus and Shot Put (setting a new National Record in the Discus).


Between 2000 and 2003, Claire completed her Bachelor of Arts in Business Management with Sports Studies at Manchester Metropolitan University.


In 2002, Claire competed at the IPC Athletics World Championships in France where she came 6th in the Discus.


Claire compete in the Paralympic World Cup in 2003 (coming 4th in the Shot Put), in 2004 (coming 5th) and in 2005 (coming 4th).


In 2004, Claire achieved the qualifying standard for 2004 Beijing Paralympic games, however was not selected. She went on to compete in the 2005 CPISRA World Games in the USA where she came 4th in the Shot Put and 4th in the Discus.


Claire was National Champion in the Discus and Shot Put between 1997 and 2007 when she retired as an athlete.


In 2014, Claire passed her Level 4 Certificate in Management and Leadership at Runshaw College.


Claire is a UKA British Athletics National Classifier for physical disabilities in athletics.


Claire is Founder and Lead Consultant at the Ability Consultancy (NW) where she manages and supports Organisations, Clubs, Schools, National Governing Bodies and Community Groups to become fully inclusive and ensure all their services are open to all.


To read more about the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CPISRA), please visit their website.


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