Last Friday around 70 enthusiastic adults with a range of mental health conditions attended a Special Olympics Competition at Heron in Newquay. It was a truly fantastic day and seeing so many people who previously haven’t had many opportunities for sport enjoying themselves so much was hugely rewarding and uplifting for everyone involved.
And speaking of everyone involved, many, many thanks must go to all the coaches, leaders from Truro College, carers and volunteers who all played their part in helping the day to go smoothly and to be so successful.
Two volunteers who deserve an extra special mention are Andrea Weston and Robbie Hampshaw, both from Heron, who have recently taken their level 1 coaching course and are now putting something back into the game that has given them so much fun and satisfaction over the past few years. Andrea’s condition means that she players her tennis in a wheelchair and Robbie has Downs syndrome, but despite the additional challenges they face, both of them have bundles of enthusiasm and fantastic attitudes where they are always happy to help others.
As well as lots of tennis and some r4eally super matches and games, the day also featured competitions in Boccia, Quick Cricket, Archery and curling and was a busy and action-packed day for everyone.
This event followed on from a lot of hard work over the past 18 months or so with Heron, and a number of other sports providers, teaming up with Steve Hillman, Cornwall’s inclusion officer, to deliver a range of sporting sessions for adults with mental health conditions who attend Cornwall’s Day Centre’s and colleges all under the newly-formed umbrella of Cornwall’s Special Olympics Club..
The initial sessions were simply about helping the players to have fun and develop their skills and confidence through sport, and this has certainly been achieved, but as the programme has grown and Cornwall now has its’ own Special Olympics club, things are gearing up towards preparing many of the players for the Official Special Olympics in Sheffield in 2016.
The Cornwall Disability Tennis Network, based at Heron, is kindly supported by the Tennis Foundation, and is able to provide a wide range of affordable tennis opportunities for anyone with any sort of disability (learning, physical, hearing, visual). If you, or someone you know, might be keen to try tennis, please do get in touch. It really is great fun and our experienced and fully-trained coaches are there to make sure that anyone can have success and progress.
Plus there are free sessions for anyone with a disability or other additional needs and their friends and family members, to come and try on Sat 16th May as part of our Great British Tennis Weekend:
2.00pm-3.00pm Wheelchair Tennis for anyone who would like to try wheelchair tennis. It’s lots of fun, the specialist chairs are available and you don’t have to be a wheelchair user to join in.
3.00pm-4.00pm there’s a fun session for players with any other sort of disability.
And on Sunday 17th May there are free sessions at Heron for Girls/Ladies (non-disabled) from 9.30am-10.30am and then from 11.30am-12.30pm it’s the turn of anyone aged 11 years through till over 70’s to enjoy a free coaching session and then free outdoor court is available from 12.00noon-4.00pm
Please call Heron on 01637 877 555 for further information and help and to book places on any of the free sessions.