Bexley Mencap’s tennis group were featured as part of a special Sports & Information Day for Learning Disability Awareness Week, held at Bexleyheath Sports Club. Over 100 people with a learning disability, carers and supporters, took part in the multi-sport event which also included football from Charlton Athletic, rugby from Gravesend RFC, boccia from Bexley Dodgers and boxing.
As always, tennis was very popular with both courts full of enthusiastic players. Bexley Mencap members and staff were on hand to help coach newcomers with a range of warm up exercises such as juggling and balancing as well as help in learning how to serve over arm.
Bexley Mencap tennis regular, Feras, said ‘it was good to meet and talk with new people’ playing tennis and said he enjoyed playing with different practice partners.
Several players needed no help at all in playing rallies over the net almost immediately. Others were fast learners and soon picked up the basic hand and eye co-ordination skills required. Just as importantly, everyone seemed to having fun and enjoying themselves.
Nick Marsden Bexley Mencap’s Healthy Lifestyles lead and tennis coach said: ‘It’s always fantastic to see such enthusiasm for all the sports. Better fitness all round can make such a difference in people’s lives and well-being and help them to be more independent. By the end of the tennis session, lots of the players were hitting the ball over the net first time. I hope everyone had a smashing time!’
The overall event was organised by Sharon Rodrigues, from Oxleas NHS Adult Learning Disability Service. Sharon said: ‘It was so encouraging to see so many people at the event. It keeps getting bigger every year with more sports on offer and care services available to help with information and advice and is always well supported by local day centres. The day is all about enabling people with a learning disability and their carers to keep in touch and meet our learning disability teams so that they can keep well in the community.’
All the sporting activities were well attended and gave people a chance to play sports they might not have tried before. Many of the attendees said that they had not played much sport since they were at school. This highlights a serious point about the need to be able to provide accessible local keep fit and physical activities to the learning disability community as part of a balanced healthy lifestyle.
Bexley Mencap member, Lee especially enjoyed playing rugby. ‘I learnt how to pass and kick the ball properly,’ he said. ‘The instructors were great. We ran up and down the touchline passing the ball to each other. It was good exercise and great fun trying to kick the ball into the pockets in the net.’
Another member, Ricky, put on his boxing gloves and sparred with the pads and impressed the coaches with his moves and combinations. ‘I used to box when I was younger,’ he said, ‘ so, it was good to work out again and get my legs and arms moving.’
Josh Hayre, co-ordinator of Bexley Sports Disability Network said; ‘It’s so good to help bring together local clubs and groups to provide sporting and keep fit activities for people with a learning disability.’
Bexley Mencap provides a wide range of Healthy Lifestyle sports and keep fit activities for adults with a learning disability. For more information see our Healthy Lifestyles pages or get in touch.
