Sports clubs.
Our Monday and Thursday Sports Clubs exist to cater for young people with disabilities aged between 9 and 19. The sports clubs are after school clubs that run once a week for each group. Between 4.30-7pm we run different weekly activities from water activities held here or one of the surrounding centres to climbing and absailing in Mile End. We also play ball games as well as racket games in near by halls and leisure centres. We can also offer a pick up and drop off service to Hackney residence if transport is a problem for them and it is available to us at the time. Qualified youth workers, inclusion workers and also volunteers, who all have a CRB check, staff the clubs. Last year we went on two residential's with members of the sports club to Hindleap Warren Outdoor centre to take part in forest adventure and other activities we can not do on a regular bases.
Adults with mental health issues.
We also dedicate every Thursday afternoon to Adults with mental health issues. With this group we run courses to gain experience and qualifications in Kayaking and Narrowboating. At the moment we are focussing on Narrowboating.
This is a lovely, friendly and wecoming group with good attendance; please get in touch with Dom if you want any more information on this.
Everywhere else!
We currently have disabled paddlers taking part in our youth and adult canoe clubs and family sessions. We also run narrow boat trips and canoe sessions for day centres, special schools and disability groups throughout the year. If you are a school group please get in touch to find out more about our schools project and how the canal can be used for educational purposes or to have a fun day learning about the canal and what lives in and around it, also the history of what it was used for. The site has ramp access to both its buildings and down to the canal also there are disabled toilets in each building. We have had excellent feed back from disabled users about our site and wonderful staff who are very patient and understanding.
Canoeing
Many disabled people are surprised to find that they can take part in canoeing. We always welcome disabled people to become members of any of the clubs that we run. We have a variety of canoes and kayaks and our staff can accompany paddlers in a double kayak or an open canoe for first timers or if you are a little nervous. We can support people who cannot swim and all our paddlers wear life jackets or buoyancy aids regardless of ability or age. Adaptations can be made to boats and paddles to aid the development of skills. We also have a hoist next to the water to gain access to kayaks or canoes.
Narrowboating
Our narrowboats are very popular with disabled groups. The 'Lady Mildmay' boat has a ramp designed for wheelchair users and a lift to get onto the boat. The lift can be used during the trip to enable people to learn how to steer the boat if they wish and we are currently looking at training disabled people to become skippers. These trips can be very relaxing and also educational as you see lots of different things while on the water.
Open Days
Last year we hosted several open days and invited everyone along, we focused one open day at children with disabilities and special educational needs and their families but did not make it exclusive, as we didn’t feel that was inclusive! These activity days, held in the summer months, included trips on our narrowboats and powerboat and some of the young people took the opportunity to try canoeing and bell boating. We had face painting and a lovely barbeque lunch.
We shall be hosting similar events and other activities this year, all completely free. The boat club will arrange these activities in partnership with the 'Key' register for children with disabilities and special educational needs and our youth club sessions are free to members of the register.
These were great trips and we have another planned for April 2008 for a week returning again to Halls Green activity centre.
