Lee Humber, Adult Learning Disability Coordinator at Abingdon and Witney College, discusses the rise of Oxford United in the Community’s disability football programme.
Almost one-quarter of people in the UK live with a disability – that’s a staggering 16 million individuals living with a condition which limits their movements, senses or activities.
As someone who is passionate about opening doors and inspiring adults living with a learning disability to have positive aspirations for their futures, I read Sport England’s Active Lives 2022 survey with a great deal of concern.
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It revealed only 45% of people living with a disability are active, compared to 66% of the rest of the population.
Furthermore, findings confirmed disabled adults are less likely to volunteer and support sport or physical activity sessions while 18% of disabled people reported feelings of loneliness.
Why is this, I ask?
Since partnering with Oxford United in the Community by launching our weekly disability football sessions, it has been reinforced to us that demand for sporting provisions delivered exclusively to those living with a disability is perhaps greater than ever.
Our primary goal by delivering sessions is to increase training and playing opportunities for sports-mad adults and young people. This is underpinned by helping participants to build new skills and make friends with likeminded individuals all while supporting their physical and mental wellbeing.
Feedback we received from participants and their carers back in January when we launched the project was that there remains a gaping provision hole concerning disability sport opportunities locally.
By the conclusion of our first year of delivery, that number had increased to 15.
We were even kindly invited to Oxford United’s training ground where over 25 people put their skills to the test before receiving an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the club’s operation.
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It’s opportunities of this kind which will stick in the minds of those we work with, and why we’re so pleased to work with Oxford United in the Community again through the 2023/24 academic year.
From our point of view, the sessions were a complete success.
What struck me was the holistic nature of every session, and how participants were able to build their social and playing skills, make new friends and build confidence in one secure and supportive environment.
Ongoing, we want to continue growing our engagement figures by hosting more people on our Abingdon campus and making them a part of our group where players of all abilities, backgrounds and experience levels are welcome.
We also have plans in place to build relationships with other disability football programmes and develop a schedule of competitive, but friendly, fixtures against EFL charitable trusts inclusion teams.
Like most provisions of this kind, it is the participants and the people behind the operation that make it so special. For anyone living with a disability considering joining a new sports club, I would urge you to get involved.
Drop myself a message via lee.humber@abingdon-witney.ac.uk to learn more. Sessions start on Wednesday, September 27, from 1pm in the main sports hall of Abingdon and Witney College’s Abingdon campus.
We hope to see you then!
Lee Humber, Adult Learning Disability Coordinator at Abingdon and Witney College
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