SPORT ENGLAND TO INVEST £1.7M in LEARNING DISABILITY HEALTH PROGRAMS

February 1, 2019

More than 4,000 people with learning disabilities are set to take part in the “Round the World” health initiative thanks to a £1.7 million  Sport England investment  in partnership with the organization, Mencap.

27 participation hubs will be set up across England with the aim of inspiring and assisting people with learning disabilities to get active in a fun, flexible and empowering way.

Through a variety of activities, including Zumba, boccia and walking rugby – as well as more traditional sports – participants will register their time spent exercising each week, which will be converted into miles.

Anyone completing 100 hours of exercise will have completed their round-the-world trip with landmarks along the way, including 20 hours for crossing the UK and 40 for Europe. Participants will receive ‘postcards’ to recognise their achievement in reaching significant landmarks along their journey.

Pilots schemes have already shown the programme to be a success with participant Vijay Patel, turning a 30-minute lunchtime run into the confidence he needed to get a job.

“I feel so much fitter and I’ve made loads of friends. I now play in a five-a-side football team where I am the top goal-scoring striker,” he said.

People with learning disabilities are twice as likely to be obese and have, on average, a 17-year reduced life expectancy. A study from Sport England showed that 43.1% of adults with learning disabilities are classed as inactive compared to the national average of 25.2%.

“Sport has such a powerful role to play in building confidence, overall health, employability and strengthening communities,” Tim Hollingsworth, Chef Executive of Sport England said.

“We must make sport and physical activity an attractive and accessible lifestyle choice – through traveling Round the World for example – so many more people with learning disabilities can lead active lives.”

Sport England is a past client of our sister company, thinkBeyond, collaborating on a designed thinking event focused on the key challenges around diversity and inclusion. 

The initiative from Sport England is working to address SDGs 3 - Good Health and Wellbeing and 10 - Reduced Inequalities. Learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals here.