After spending six years facilitating a mixed ability rugby team, Ross McUrich was inspired to become a support worker with Hft. Now a Hub Leader at our Bradford service, Ross has set up Sport4all, a sports group for people with learning disabilities. The group offers the opportunity for people supported by Hft to get involved in a variety of sports on a regular basis.
Ross says:
“I’m a facilitator for the Bumble Bees mixed ability rugby team and have been for nearly ten years now. The team play full contact rugby against other mixed ability sides across the world, as well as other non-disabled teams across the country. It has been really successful; people with disabilities have not only got involved in playing rugby but it has also been a great stepping stone socially. This is what inspired me to get into support work – seeing how much of a difference can be made just by providing an opportunity for someone with a disability to be involved in something and supporting them where needed with it.
“Inclusion in sport is highly important for anyone; it strengthens a person’s confidence physically, mentally and emotionally. I have also witnessed how sport can have an impact on people’s independence for the better, for example moving into a more independent home or travelling independently. Sport isn’t just for someone to become stronger or fitter, it’s to show you can do something, there is always a way.
“Sport4all started with a small group of six people we support going to the local leisure centre and playing sports that they wanted to on that day. Six months later, we moved Sport4all to the community centre and were able to secure a Funds for the Future grant. We used this money for new sports equipment so we could have more variety, accessibility and fulfil requests for ‘something new’.
“We now have two days a week dedicated to doing sports. The people we support have been enjoying it and are looking forward to the summer to get outside with our sports equipment. We have indoor curling, tennis, cricket, football, rugby, yoga, table tennis and indoor bowls! The plans for the future are to progress the sports we do on these days by partnering with a local club and hopefully enter a league alongside other members. My goal is for Sport4all members to become fully part of a local sports club as a mixed ability team.
“I asked David, a person we support who attends Sport4all, what it meant to him to be included in sports. His reply was:
“It’s great, I am excited to play bowls”.
Find out more about our Bradford services.
