Sunshine and smiles were in abundance at the 10th annual Have a Go Festival.
About 180 people took the chance to “Have a Go” at several sporting activities including cycling, archery, football, dancing and cricket at Horspath Athletics Track in Oxford.
The pleasant weather lent itself to a great day of fun, socialising and activity for adults with learning disabilities who travelled from across Oxfordshire to enjoy the sports day.
This year’s event marked a decade of providing people with learning disabilities the chance to try out a range of activities and overcome some of the barriers they can experience when it comes to taking part in sports.
The event was hosted by the Learning Disability Service at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and Active Oxfordshire. Organisations who made the event possible include MOLA, the new Family and Community Partner for Oxford United and Oxford United in the Community, and Cyclability, who provide cycling opportunities primarily for adults with the aim of making cycling inclusive, so it really is for all people.
Harry Bailey, Clinical Lead Physiotherapist at Oxford Heath (pictured left) said: “It’s great to see so many people from the learning disability population come to enjoy physical activities, since access to physical activities for this group of people is limited across the country. All the activities were provided by organisations which run activities locally and all the people who registered at the event were given a sheet with information about activities so they can take part in future if they wish.”
Hayley Sanders, Access Sport Manager at Active Oxfordshire and joint event organiser (pictured above) said: “The event is really important in raising awareness about the availability of sports to all people and directing people from the learning disability population to regular sporting opportunities which are so beneficial for their physical and mental health, social interaction and skill development. The key thing for people to know is that any sport can suit any person, you look at what people can do, not what they can’t do. Anything can be adapted to accommodate any person.”
Published: 24 July 2024