An organisation that promotes healthy lifestyles has been awarded a grant by Community Link Foundation to support a series of sporting activities for people with learning difficulties.
Sporting Challenge, based in West Lancashire, was set up in 2008 by a group of parents of adults with additional needs and its aims is to give people the opportunity to participate in different activities and encourage them to improve their health and well-being. They now support 55 people in the West Lancashire area.
They applied to Community Link Foundation for funding to put on activities to improve health, fitness, well being and enjoyment of physical activity including aerobics, bowling, boccia, kurling, zumba/dance and swimming.
Many of the group members live in rural areas across West Lancashire where public transport is poor or none existent, so Sporting Challenge also provides transport to and from the activities.
Sporting Challenge Activities Organiser, Edward McCarthy, said: “I am delighted with the support we have received from the Community Link Foundation. On behalf of Sporting Challenge I would like to thank them for their support – it will make a huge difference. Attendance at the activities will improve their quality of life by enabling them to try something different, learn new skills and have the opportunity to socialise.
“Some people with learning disabilities do not need physical support, but they may lack the skills to organise their own activities and maintain a circle of friends. We feel that that by providing these activities for people with learning disabilities we have really made a difference to their quality of life.”
Enda Rylands, chairman of Community Link Foundation, said: “We are delighted to be able to award Sporting Challenge a grant of £500 to enable them to continue the wonderful work that they are doing. We have supported them in the past and know what great work they do.”
For more information about Sporting Challenge, go to www.sporting-challenge.org.uk or email edwardatEMSS@gmail.com.
