Stroke towards inclusive canoeing for people with learning disabilities in Reading
On Wednesday 11 June, an innovative pilot programme in Reading was launched. It aims to offer new opportunities for people with a learning disability to take part in canoeing.
Seven people with a learning disability and three volunteers took part in the first pilot session at Wokingham Waterside Centre in Berkshire today.
The participants arrived early, raring to go. Coaches from Wokingham Waterside Centre kitted everyone out with bouyancy aids and paddles before they hit the water. Participants received an hour of quality coaching and time on the water in katakanus – adapted canoe boats, which are designed to be fully stable. All participants said that they couldn’t wait for the next session.
Bernadine, who has a learning disability and took part in the first pilot session, said:
"I really enjoyed canoeing today because I have never done it before. It was very good exercise. I am really looking forward to doing it again".
The programme is run by Mencap and Special Olympics GB in partnership with British Canoeing and their Paddle-Ability scheme*. Coaches from Wokingham Waterside Centre delivered the session to members of local Mencap group, Reading Mencap, and they will continue to run the remaining 11 sessions of the pilot throughout June and July.
British Canoeing aims to aims to increase the number of people with a disability taking part in canoeing by 8% over the next four years.
Sue Hornby, Director of Development for British Canoeing, said:
"British canoeing is delighted to be working in partnership with Mencap and Special Olympics GB to increase the number of people with a learning disability that are able to experience and enjoy canoeing. We are delighted that this first pilot at Wokingham has been met with such enthusiasm and are confident this will be a very successful project."
British Canoeing has a network of clubs throughout the UK who have been recognised as having high quality coaching and provision for disabled people. Wokingham Waterside Centre is one of these.
Belinda Blackwell from Wokingham Waterside Centre, said:
"Wokingham Waterside Centre is delighted that British Canoeing, Mencap and Special Olympics GB have formed a meaningful and proactive partnership. As a charity, our mission and ethos is to provide excellent quality activities and facilities that benefit the whole community. It gives us great pleasure to support Reading Mencap in its tremendous work and enable adults to explore water activities and all that our beautiful stretch of the River Thames has to offer."
Mencap and Special Olympics GB have worked together to deliver many inclusive sport initiatives to increase participation for people with disabilities across the UK. This latest pilot is another demonstration of this.
Ian Carpenter, National Sport Manager at Mencap, said:
“It’s really exciting that British Canoeing are championing people with a learning disability throughout their development work; their coaches will be attending learning disability coaching workshops, their clubs are becoming much more inclusive through the Paddle-Ability accreditation process, and they are looking to create more opportunities for competition. This pilot project and future development work is a very important opportunity to get more people with a learning disability on the water.”
Andy Heffer, Director of Sports and Development for Special Olympics GB, said:
"Sport can have a transformative effect on the lives of people with a learning disability, giving them opportunities for enjoyment and achievement, and participating in a sport like canoeing also brings significant health benefits. We hope that this is just the start of many such sessions across the country.”
Margaret Harper from Reading Mencap, said:
"This is a wonderful new experience for our members who are all very excited to be going canoeing on the river, especially as the river plays a major part in Reading life."
For more information, please contact Lisa Gilbert, PR Officer at Mencap, on 020 7696 6950 or Lisa.Gilbert@mencap.org.uk
