Pennine Mencap- Sports and Social Club

Pennine Mencap

Pennine Mencap- Sports and Social Club

A project by Pennine Mencap

Pennine Mencap- Sports and Social Club

At Pennine Mencap we provide activities for adults with Learning Difficulties, Autism, Asperger's, brain injuries and other complex needs throughout Oldham, Tameside, Greater Manchester and Rochdale.

We provide an inclusive sport-themed and wellbeing event on the last Friday of every month at Hurst Community Centre in Ashton, our Sport and Social Club. Each month we host various sport activities suitable for all ability levels whilst other service users and family, who wish to, can spectate the activities whilst enjoying our pool table and hot/cold drinks. Food is provided for all, along with healthy refreshments, such as sandwiches and salads during summer months and hot food during winter months, to ensure attendees get a balanced meal as a thank you for their participation.

We have undertaken extensive consultation including telephone and in-person conversations with prospective beneficiaries, and an online poll with 71 responses to guide as us to what sports activities the LD&A community would like to see as part of these events with 28% (20 votes) for Walking Football, 18% (13 votes) for Volleyball and 14% (10 votes) for Dancing as our top 3 responses. This allowed our service users to have their say and coproduce the events.

We kicked off our Sports and Social Club with our fantastic Walking Football event with everyone excited to be back and looking forward to some fun competition! Many greatly anticipate future events of Volleyball, Dancing, Basketball, Badminton and much more!

We recognise from our own local knowledge and figures reported by the Office of National Statistics that there is a strong link between poverty and having a disabled dependent adult and so to encourage a greater number of service users to attend we would like to allow the sessions to be free of charge to be accessible to those on the lowest of incomes and we will aim to make the events welcoming not just to LD&A adults but their carers and immediate family members for the benefit of whole family units (where possible). It will also build friendships and social structures for those who live alone, especially after the effects of three national lockdowns has rocked their self-confidence of emotional wellbeing.

What your gift could provide

£10

various sporting equipment, ie appropriate balls, rackets, shuttlecocks, etc

£5

Allow a meal and other refreshments for a vulnerable adult for the Sport and Social Club

£25

An assortment of varying sized and coloured bibs for 12 service users.

Volunteers needed

Compassionate, patient people to work with our service users who have a range of differing abilities and issues.