Sporting Challenge is a family led charity started in 2008 operating in West Lancashire supporting people with learning disabilities, where all members of the Board of Trustees are parents themselves.
Summary of Sporting Challenge’s Aims:
Sporting Challenge is a charity that provides the opportunity for adults of 18 and over with learning difficulties the chance to participate in social activities linked to sport. The provision of these activities gives the members’ carers and families much needed respite with the knowledge that they are safe, understood and supported.
Our activities improve members health, fitness, well being and enjoyment of physical activity. These activities include: Aerobics, Bowling, Boccia, Kurling, Zumba/Dance, Swimming and other Fitness Activities.
We support people in the West Lancashire area with learning disabilities to access a variety of activities by providing transport to and from their homes and the appropriate sessional workers to support them whilst carrying out the activities.
The parent / carer will be also to be able to have a short break each week improving their quality of life and general well-being. The people taking part in these events are asked to make a contribution towards the cost of each activity.
We hold regular meetings with the people we provide the activities for and their parents so we can discuss the outcomes and any improvements that may be made.
Also we work with Local Statutory and Voluntary Bodies to ensure that we are helping to meet the needs of the community. We feel that that by providing these activities for people with learning disabilities we have really made a difference to their quality of life.
In Sporting Challenge’s Constitution the Objectives are “To Provide or assist in the provision of opportunities and facilities in the interest of social welfare for the physical recreation or other leisure time occupation for individuals who need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances, in particular people with learning difficulties with the object of improving their conditions of life.”
Our sessions:
- Built fitness amongst adults and young people who have a learning disability.
- Build self-confidence, raise self-esteem and improve mental health amongst adults with learning disability.
- Help members gain independence.
- Make new friends.
- Members can spend time away from their families and carers, having fun and giving them a break.
We constantly aim to have:
-More sessions taking place.
-Increased number of younger adults taking part in our sessions.
-The adults taking part having improved levels of fitness, and confidence and fulfilment
within society.
The Current Trustees are:
- Alasdair Watson (Chairman/Trustee/Parent)
- Mildred Watson (Secretary/Trustee/Parent)
- Gary Reece (Vice Chairman/Trustee/Parent
- Kate Brady (Trustee/Parent/Safeguarding Officer)
- Marie Monk (Trustee/Parent)
- Chris Taylor (Trustee/Parent)
Other Committee Members are:
Edward McCarthy (Sporting Challenge Activities Organiser/Charity Treasurer/Officer of the Charity).