Last week, Arsenal in the Community held a Disability Sports Day. The free event aimed to encourage inclusion through a number of different sports.
Our Disability Sports Day guests were invited to take part in a number of different activities including an Emirates Stadium Tour, experiencing a behind the scenes look at the stadium, led by our Arsenal in the Community staff, who guided the groups behind the scenes, sharing historic information about the club and exploring the disability access around The Emirates.
Guests then had the opportunity to play football with our Arsenal in the Community coaches, on the indoor football pitch of our community Hub. Football sessions were available for each group, encouraging everyone to get involved with simple skills, games and an amputee football session.
Participants also had the chance to learn to dance with Act One Arts Base, a beneficiary of The Arsenal Foundation. Act One Arts Base run training programmes for learning and physically disabled artists, offering disabled artists the chance to take part in dance and creative activities structured around practical employment training sessions. The Act One dance teachers provided a fun beginners session, focussing on enjoying the music and movement of different forms of dance.
Arsenal in the Community also worked with Pedal Power, an Islington based cycling club for people with disability. Cycling is another sport that many people with physical disabilities have not been able to experience before, so we invited Pedal Power to get involved with our Sports Day, allowing guests to try out the especially adapted bikes, and to encourage people with any disability to enjoy cycling. Pedal Power are also beneficiaries of the Arsenal Foundation, storing their bikes in Emirates Stadium, the sessions take place every Thursday from 10am until 1pm and are free for anyone who wishes to cycle around the Stadium on the flat and safe space of the podium.
Luke Howard, Arsenal in the Community Disability Officer said, “Days like this are an amazing opportunity for us to engage with people who may not be able to access the club, or sport normally. By using our own expertise, and bringing in some excellent projects that The Arsenal Foundation has supported, we were able to offer a variety of activities suitable for all and to create a day to remember.”
Luke added, “It is important that we use our position within the community to bring people together and to encourage people of all ages and abilities to experience different activities and sports together.”
Arsenal in the Community offer a range of weekly sessions. For more information contact Luke Howard at lhoward@arsenal.co.uk.
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