More sporting opportunities for people with disabilities

31 March 2008

Over 80 people with disabilities of all ages took part in two free events over the weekend to try out new sports and physical activities, coordinated by Bromley Mytime.

Adults with a range of additional needs went along to an open day at the Walnuts Leisure Centre, Orpington on Friday 28th March and tried out range of activities including badminton, short mat bowls, new age kurling, tennis, boccia and table tennis. Annie Parsons from Orpington said “I love it, is really good here and I’d like to come back and try some more sports”.

40 children and young people with disabilities and their families had great fun at The Spa at Beckenham on Sunday 30th March and took part in swimming with expert tuition and fun aqua jets as well as soft play, multi-sports and the gym. Jane Carter, parent of Lucy said “Well done Bromley Mytime for organising a fabulous event, it was lovely to see children with additional needs joining in and feeling part of a group and no different from anyone else”. This view was shared by many other parents, Vicki Sims said “Oliver had an enjoyable afternoon and made new friends, it was a relaxed atmosphere and the staff were very helpful, it takes a lot of stress and pressure off family and was something to look forward to”.

Dennis Barkway, Chairman of Bromley Mytime said “Mytime believes everyone should have access to sports and leisure activities regardless of their needs and abilities, and will be working with partners and funders to sustain these types of event and programmes in the future. Congratulations to all the staff, volunteers and parents and carers who made these events possible, and opened up new opportunities for people who may not have experienced this before.”

Disabled Londoners currently have fewer opportunities or choice of sports, sports activities and facilities than others, leading to fewer than one in five disabled adults in London regularly taking part in any sport or physical activity.

The events were supported by The London Development Agency ‘Winter of Sport’ scheme and the ABLE2 (Achieve, Believe, Learn, Enjoy) Disability Sport Awareness Week across South London. PRO-ACTIVE South London, one of five County Sports Partnerships for the London, are dedicated to raising awareness of this issue, helping increase the opportunities for Disabled Londoners in Sport and Physical Activity. Their aim is to increase participation amongst the disabled community by 1% year on year.