Felix Young, B&NES’ try active Cycling Coach brought a range of adaptive bikes and scooters to the Inclusive After School Club, encouraging young people to be active regardless of their ability.
© Mervyn Clingan (Taking Pictures (Sport) Ltd
The weekly Inclusive After School Club, run by Bath Rugby Foundation and The Active Lifestyles and Health Improvement Team at Bath & North East Somerset Council, provides multi-sport opportunities for young people, aged 7-18, with special educational needs and/or physical impairments in Bath.
The hour long cycling session saw the group use a variety of bikes including a tandem, a three wheel cruiser trike, a tandem, an easy to balance scooter and a standard off road bike aimed to make cycling accessible to the group, some of whom may not be able to ride a conventional cycle.
Felix allowed the young people to find the bike most suited to them before setting them a series of personal and competitive challenges.
Felix was delighted with the enthusiasm of the young people at the club and said, “It was rewarding to see everyone having a great time.
“Cycling is a sport which allows everyone to find their own pace and challenges.
“The best way to develop skills is just to get cycling and spend as much time as possible enjoying it. Happy cyclists are skilful cyclists who make safe cyclists.”
Bath Rugby Foundation Inclusion Manager Caryl Thomas, added: “It’s fantastic to have such pro-active communities, with so many sporting opportunities for young people of all abilities available.
“We’ve been working closely with Becks the “Outdoor fitness” try- activator at the club and now working in partnership with Felix the “cycling” try-activator it opens doors for participants to try new sports in a safe environment.
“It’s great to see participants transition to sport specific clubs and main stream clubs. It means they’ve engaged in a sporting habit for life and have positive experiences of trying sports.”
The Inclusive After School runs on a term-time basis every Monday from 4pm-5pm at Bath Sports and Leisure Centre (BA2 4ET). The cost of the 10 week club is £40, if you are thinking of trying out the club, the first session can be free.
New term dates have just been announced with sessions running on the following dates:
- 20th, 27th April
- 11th, 18th May
- 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th June
- 6th, 13th July
The club is a partnership initiative involving Bath Rugby Foundation, Bath & North East Somerset Council, Aquaterra, Herman Miller, Threeways School, Fosseway School and Bath & North East Somerset Inclusive Sport & Physical Activity Association (BISPAA).
Herman Miller have supported the club in many ways over the past three years, one of which is providing staff time to volunteer at the club, offering further one-to-one support during the sessions.
John Miles, a Herman Miller employee, said: “Taking part in the after school activities for the last three years has been without doubt one of the most fulfilling and enjoyable activities we have taken part in.”
