Anna Willis

This modern way of thinking is reflected in the longevity of the approach the Parasport team are taking in providing sport to all. Loughborough has incredible gym facilities, and the team are working hard to make the building and everything it provides as accessible and approachable as possible. They worked with colleagues at the gym to think about what the environment is like for people both with physical impairments and those who have a hidden disability, and they asked students who are wheelchair users to go to the gym and offer feedback on its accessibility and layout. They want everyone to be able to navigate the space safely, calmly, and confidently.

Another key part, for Anna and Nik, is equipping staff with the confidence to engage with students who have a disability. “We’re providing some training around disability confidence, and that covers things like understanding what we mean by disability,” Anna said. “It’s how to engage, how to use the right language. And most importantly, it’s about not assuming, not immediately thinking about what a person can’t do, and asking questions about what they can do.”

This approach of providing options to all students at Loughborough is essential to how the team think about what inclusive and parasport means. “If I put myself in the position of a student coming to Loughborough, inclusive sport to me means, whether I’m disabled or not, that whatever sport I want to do I’ve got the opportunity to play,” Nik said. He emphasised the importance of this at both recreational and elite levels: “if I were a student who wants to pursue an elite sport pathway in one of the typical Paralympic sports, then I have the same opportunities as my non-disabled peers who can get access to scholarships, coaching, world-class facilities, and all the stuff that Loughborough is known for.”

It’s something they hope will be a model for other universities across the UK and internationally. “I feel we actually have kind of a moral responsibility here as arguably a university that has a lot of influence, particularly because of our association with sports,” Nik said.

Both Nik and Anna emphasised that they’re at the start of a long, but exciting, journey, and they’re building something that will grow and grow over the years. It’s spreading across disciplines already: engineering students tasked with creating a solution to a problem within parasport designed an automated boccia ball picker for one of their modules. “It’s a great example of non-disabled students studying sports engineering having the opportunity to apply their skills and solve a problem in a sport like Boccia, and in doing so, opening their eyes to a different world of sports,” Anna said.

However, pan-disability sessions include cerebral palsy, visually impaired, and amputee groups all coming together to play an eight aside match on a Tuesday evening. Phil has to carefully decide on the balance of making sure it’s enjoyable because of numbers, and that it’s competitive, but also that everyone’s at a similar level to compete with each other.

“It’s so inspiring to watch them around each other”, Vicky said. “They’re just so accepting of each other, they don’t even see the disabilities because they’re just like, we’re just some footballers playing together.”

Sarah works with local clubs to support them in providing inclusive and disability sessions. “In essence, we want as many people as we can playing football,” Sarah said. She signposts clubs to any funding that may be available and help them promote sessions to the public and different groups.

And she emphasises that it’s about supporting everyone to try playing football. “Mainstream football isn’t for everyone. There are a lot of children and adults that find their club just isn’t right for them. So we provide that additional opportunity for them, perhaps to build up their confidence, before they move into more mainstream football.”

CUCT is also expanding their understanding of inclusivity in their football offerings. They’re based at Abbey Stadium, in the Abbey ward of Cambridge which is one of the most deprived areas in the city. Mental health is also being incorporated, including a programme called Mind Your Head. CUCT also provide lots of additional support by using football as the draw, such as match day reporting sessions, which helps people improve their English, and a combined course with AstraZeneca teaching science.

Vicky’s understanding of the meaning of ‘inclusion’ changed for her since moving to the Trust. “We used to call the programme the ‘disability programme’, but we’ve changed it to ‘inclusion programme’. It doesn’t just mean disability, and ‘disability’ has so many different forms, and it shouldn’t mean that you can’t have access to a football session. Inclusion for me is just making sure we reduce as many barriers as possible, giving you the best chance of coming and enjoying the session.”

Sailing is a dynamic sport, exciting and adrenaline filled; very little can beat the feeling of the wind across your face or the sun on your back. It can also be leisurely, as Vanessa Weedon-Jones, RYA coach assessor and senior instructor, told me: “Sailing, because it happens outdoors, offers a fantastic opportunity to connect with nature, which in turn helps you relax, unwind and just enjoy the freedom of being afloat.”

The freedom of sailing brought Val some incredible opportunities during her sailing career. She’s competed in her Mirror dinghy at club and national level, become a senior instructor focused on supporting Sailability centres, and has competed internationally as part of the Paralympic Squad. As Val said: “Have a boat, see the world.” Val has also been involved in the Great British Sailing Challenge since it began, and in 2019 was overall second lady helm and second over 60 helm: she’s not letting any barriers get in her way.

Freedom also comes from sailing’s ability to adapt. Sailing, at whatever standard and ability, teaches you adaptability, flexibility, intuition and awareness. You hear the wind direction and alter your course when it (inevitability) shifts; you’re always looking out for other boats around you; you’re feeling the tide’s pull against the boat and working with it. These are all skills that we need in providing inclusive opportunities for others.

Sailing is also unique in providing an equal platform in which to compete, using the ‘handicap’ system, which is judged based on the boat you’re sailing. Each boat is given a PY number (known in sailing as the handicap) which means that when you’re racing someone in a much faster boat, the two boats’ speed difference is removed. As Val says: “The handicap of the boat means that I am recognised by all those competing as a sailor, not as a disabled person in a funny-looking boat.”

But most importantly, sailing brings community. I’ve had the privilege of sailing with Hunts Sailing Club in St Ives for several years, particularly with the ‘Women on the Water’ group, set up by Vanessa to provide a low pressure and welcoming space for those busy with families at weekends, and who may prefer cruising to racing. It’s a space where we can sail just as we want to and can stay and chat afterwards with coffee and cake.

Jane also goes to ‘Women on the Water’: “It’s a place where I can be myself and people understand me. It gives me extra strength for the communication challenges I face every day.” Everyone is always supportive and willing to help.