Hertsmere Mencap and Borehamwood Football Club host old fashioned sports day and football tournament to celebrate Learning Disability Week
Hertsmere Mencap teamed up with Borehamwood FC to run a fun and inclusive multi-sports session on Friday the 21st of June. They called on people of all ages and abilities, with and without a learning disability, to come along and join in the event, which is one of a series of activities taking place across the country to mark Learning Disability Week 2019 which takes place from 17-23 June.
New research by Mencap has found that fear of being bullied is leading to social isolation for people with a learning disability. In response, Mencap is kicking off its 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon partnership with a series of inclusive sporting events during Learning Disability Week 2019. The events will bring people with and without a learning disability together through sport.
Lucy Sitton, from Hertsmere Mencap said:
“We are all very excited about taking part in learning disability week with our own unique Friday Funday. This is an opportunity for everyone to get active in keeping with the theme of sport and have a great deal of fun at the same time. We look forward to hearing how other people are choosing to celebrate Learning Disability Week 2019.”
We know that taking part in sport makes people with a learning disability feel more confident, healthy and a part of their community. As the UK’s leading learning disability charity, Mencap is organising inclusive sporting activities all over the country during Learning Disability Week. We’re delighted to be teaming up with Borehamwood FC to run this event. We hope that people from all around the area will come along to the session, have a lot of fun and learn from coaches and at the same time, make people with a learning disability feel more included in the community.”
One person taking part is Rebecca. Rebecca has a learning disability. She says: “Since joining Hertsmere Mencap, I now have a new group of friends which is very important to me. I enjoy going to music and movement sessions on a Monday and aerobics on a Friday. Exercise is great way to feel good about yourself, have fun and be happy.”
Mencap’s partnership with the 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon is helping to fund many of the sporting activities across the country during Learning Disability Week. David Duffy, Chief Executive of Virgin Money, says: ”We are thrilled to announce Mencap as our charity partner of the year. Mencap has been leading the way in challenging discrimination against people with learning disabilities across society, and the charity’s pioneering work on sports and social inclusion has been a game-changer.”
