Building a support team
The city guide for differently-abled athletes
London is a vibrant city with plenty going on for the budding athlete, but for those of us who are differently-abled, accessing all that London has to offer in the sporting realm can feel a little daunting at times.
Happily there are a number of organisations who are passionate about getting differently abled athletes stuck into sport and a handful of these amazing charities are highlighted below:
Access Sport
Access Sport’s vision is that no one should be excluded from the transformational benefits of community sport. Access Sport trains, supports and empowers community clubs and groups to deliver disability inclusive sports and physical activity all over the UK. An exciting new initiative is currently underway in London: Ignite London, focusing on growing inclusive sport in the boroughs of Greenwich, Lewisham and Southwark and most recently, Bexley, Bromley and Croydon.
So, whether you are up for disability inclusive Taekwondo in Lewisham or a spot of basketball at Safehaven Southwark Basketball Club, Access Sport’s website has all the information you need to get stuck in:
CPotential
CPotential, based in Muswell Hill, is a not-for-profit organisation that provides tailored rehabilitation therapy and support to children and young people with movement disorders. They offer a wide range of services from occupational therapy, to music therapy to wellbeing support. Okay, so this is not quite sport but all athletes need to look after their whole wellbeing.
Disability Sports Coach
Disability Sports Coach have a number of Community Clubs across London providing weekly sports activities for people of all abilities. The clubs offer a whole range of activities from Basketball to Boccia and are a great place to make friends and stay active. Siblings and carers are also able to take part!
icandance
icandance, based in North London, celebrates disabled children and young people, empowering them through dance and performance. icandance offers a creative, therapeutic community that caters for the needs of children and young people and their families with lived experience of disabilities, including children with complex and profound disabilities. This wonderful charity was established in 2006 by Juliet Diener with the vision to make dance accessible to all. icandance offers weekly group dance sessions, as well as a week long summer school, an annual performance as well as individual dance movement psychotherapy sessions. Become a part of this community by joining their dance sessions or parent therapy groups.
Small Steps
Based in Richmond, Small Steps open their doors to children, and their parent or carer, each week for a group session. This session includes a team of teachers, conductors and physiotherapists who focus on helping each child achieve their next developmental steps. Although the programme focuses primarily on learning new physical skills, it also encompasses social and educational learning skills.
KEEN London
Finally, KEEN London provides one-to-one support at free sports and activity sessions for children with additional needs. But as KEEN London is the focus of our Charity Spotlight article in this edition, I will let you read our Charity Spotlight for more information on KEEN London.
Little Champions
In August of this year, we set up Little Champions on Instagram to celebrate the courage and determination of children affected by brain injury. We have had an enormous amount of fun with our followers, sharing their highs and lows, and it has been an enormous privilege to be a part of this special online co mmunity. Please do follow us and join in the fun:
The Little Champions Instagram page is supported by webpages that provide a practical guide for families affected by brain injury. A London focused page provides more information on accessing all that London has to offer.
With so many awesome organisations dedicated to getting as many of us as possible involved with sport and activities across London, we really have no excuse for resting on our laurels. It’s time for me to start shifting some of those Christmas treats and mince pies. I’ll keep you updated on @little__champions…
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