This Ability provides bags of potential

BUCKLERS Mead Academy and Sports Centre in Yeovil opened its doors again this year to host This Ability - an event showcasing the wide array of disabled sporting opportunities and clubs that are available in Somerset.

This Ability, organised annually by Yeovil Shopmobility, Yarlington Housing Group and Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership, saw over 400 people brave the weather earlier this month to enjoy displays and exhibitions including wheelchair basketball, accessible angling, bowls, cricket and community games.

The day was opened by Yeovil Town FC coach Darren Way and players, as well as games makers and torch bearers from the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

SASP disability manager Jen Slade said: “I think This Ability offers the chance for disabled and non-disabled people in our community to experience and try out a variety of sports which provides the foundation stones to build and develop more opportunities in the future.

“The day showcases the need for increased provision regardless of disability, many of the sports providing the opportunity for both disabled and non-disabled people to play sport together.”

Throughout the day members of the public, both disabled and non-disabled were encouraged to try as many sports as possible and to spend some time in the specially adapted sports chairs and road racing wheelchairs.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Yarlington resident Ian Houlton talks fishing with Cllr Clive Davies, chairman of Yeovil Shopmobility.

Games of boccia (accessible bowls), target angling and judo sessions were popular activities for those that attended, as was the chance to take part in the wheelchair dancing displays, provided by The Choughs Wheelchair Dancing Team.

Joint organiser Julia Sothcott said “The ambition of This Ability is to encourage more disabled people to get involved in sport and also to maintain the positive legacy created by the Games in 2012.

“As an event, we felt we needed to keep the spirit of the Paralympics in the public mind and showcase everything that is available at a local level.

“This year’s event was a huge success, with many people who attended the day, signing up to try new sports and join existing clubs.”

As well as exhibits from local charities and sports clubs, live music was provided by Limitless, an equal opportunities theatre company based in Yeovil that actively seeks new cast members and promotes disability and inclusion through musical performance and the arts.

Karen Davy, from Yarlington Housing Group, said: “Support for the event was overwhelming again this year and it was brilliant to see so many people trying something new and getting involved.

“Yeovil and Somerset has so much to offer in terms of sport and activity for disabled people but it is so important to promote this at a local level. If one person attending today, joins a club, tries a new sport or fulfils an ambition, then This Ability will have done its job.”

For more information about disabled sports and clubs in Somerset contact Jen Slade at SASP on 01823-653990 or visit www.sasp.co.uk .

This Ability, funded this year by Cornish Mutual, Yeovil Without Parish Council, Yarlington Housing Group and The Norman Family Trust, will return again in 2014 and hopes to build on the continuing success and support the event has received over the last two years.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Yeovil Town FC coach Darren Way with Giles Highnam from Yeovil Shopmobility who completed the wheelchair challenge course in 43 seconds.

PHOTO - ABOVE: A Lynx Wheelchair basketball team player with Yeovil Town FC coach Darren Way.

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