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Disability and Inclusive Sports in Nottinghamshire

Physical activity should be the norm, including amongst people with a disability or additional need. Active Notts is an organisation that has a strategy that encourages all people to lead a more active life. This organisation focuses its support on people who need it most in terms of becoming more active. This includes people who are inactive and who have some sort of inequality at local levels, people who have a disability or a limiting illness, and children and young people.

The importance of physical activity for all

The Active Notts team understand that there are unique challenges for people with disabilities or limiting illnesses when it comes to being physically active or doing sport. The team works really had to make sure that there are adequate opportunities for all people to join in, help out or even coach a sport or an activity.

Guidelines for disabled adults

It is recommended that adults with disabilities make physical activity a daily habit. Not only does this improve the quality of life and mental health, but it also makes it easier to maintain a healthy weight and increases independence so that daily tasks are easier. Moreover, by doing the physical activity each day, people can feel a sense of belonging to a community and have more of a social life.

In terms of the physical benefits of doing daily physical activity, adults with disabilities or limiting illnesses will have increased fitness, increased mobility and balance and will be strengthening their muscles and bones as well as preventing chronic disease.

According to guidelines, people should do balance and strength activities on two or more days per week. If the goal is to be substantially fitter, people should aim to do 150 minutes of exercise of moderate intensity per week. This means that you are able to talk when working out but not sing.

Opportunities for people with disabilities or limiting illnesses

The county has a vast array of inclusive activities. Many are generally inclusive while others are specific to disability.

Run Together

There is a Run Together programme launched by England Athletics that helps people find support from running guides.

Inclusive Sports Group

This is a sports group for the young people between the ages of 17 and 30. It is a free sports group for young adults who might have autism, Aspergers or a learning disability. The group is based at MyPlace in Mansfield Folkhouse Youth Centre. There are lots of opportunities available including table tennis and pool. People are encouraged to bring friends of their carer if necessary as there is no formal support. This group is part of Nottinghamshire Co-Production Network. To join the group, individuals should make contact with a Co-Production Development Worker. Find out more here.

Council-run activities

Nottingham City Council runs lots of activities for people who have disabilities or limiting illnesses. One of the best all-round sports for everyone is swimming and this is where you have the most choice in terms of inclusivity.

Swimming

Swim Inclusive

There are lots of different Swim Inclusive swimming sessions on different days of the week in different locations.

On Monday morning, there is a session at Djanogly Community Leisure Centre, Forest Fields. On Friday afternoons, you can visit Harvey Hadden Sports Village, Bilborough. On Friday evenings there is a session at Victoria Leisure Centre, Sneinton. On Sunday morning there is a session at Harvey Hadden Sports Village and on Sunday afternoon, one at Ken Martin Leisure Centre, Bulwell.

Nottingham Swim School

This swim school offers disability swimming at Clifton Leisure Centre on Monday afternoons, at Ken Martin Leisure Centre on Wednesday afternoons, at Harvey Hadden Sports Village on Saturdays and at Victoria Leisure Centre on Sunday mornings.

Splash Session

There is a ‘Splash Session’, which is a hydrotherapy swimming session on Saturday mornings at Oak Field School in Bilborough

Disability Swimming Pre Club Link

This is for Juniors and adults that have reached Stage 5 or more and who can swim 25 metres. It takes place on a Saturday afternoon at Harvey Hadden Sports Village, Bilborough

Dementia Friendly Swimming

This takes place on a Wednesday morning at Clifton Leisure Centre, on a Wednesday afternoon at Ken Martin Leisure Centre and on a Friday afternoon at Harvey Hadden Sports Centre.

Multi Sports

There is a Multi-Sports Club at Aspley YMCA on Monday evenings. It is suitable for children and young people aged between 8 and 20.

Football

There is a Football Club at Aspley YMCA on Tuesday evenings. It is suitable for children and young people aged between 8 and 20.

Basketball

On Wednesday afternoons at Ellis Guildford School in Basford, Nottingham Hoods Wheelchair Basketball Club meets. This is a sport for both children and adults.

Tennis

There are many opportunities for playing tennis in Nottingham. Nottingham Tennis Centre runs 3 different groups. On Friday evenings, there is Learning Disability Tennis for adults and juniors, Visually Impaired Tennis for adults and juniors and Wheelchair Tennis for adults and juniors.

What’s more, there is Disability Tennis on Saturday afternoons at Clifton Leisure Centre.

Visually impaired tennis, adult or junior, Friday evening, Nottingham Tennis Centre

Wheelchair tennis, Friday evening, Nottingham Tennis Centre

Other

John Carroll Leisure Centre in Radford has a sensory room that can be used during leisure centre opening hours.