Monthly Archives: April 2021

Free training sessions with MMARAP!

MMARAP is offering you the chance to take part in an innovative and free training session, our Disability, Inclusion, Learning, Empathy for Mixed Martial Arts (DILEMMA).
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Face your DILEMMA with MMARAP!

MMARAP is offering you the chance to take part in an innovative and free training session, our Disability, Inclusion, Learning, Empathy for Mixed Martial Arts (DILEMMA).

The four-hour online initiative, funded by Sporting Equal, will take place on Wednesday, May 5 (10 am-2 pm) on Zoom, with 10 spaces available.

Our DILEMNA training aims to help MMA coaches and professionals improve their understanding and ability in those crucial areas and will focus on creating a new community of disabled aware and empathetic coaches.

It’s easy to sign up and get involved… click here

MMARAP is renowned for practicing exercises and disciplines to help those experiencing physical disabled conditions, mental health conditions and learning difficulties

This is the ideal opportunity for you to find out why it can be so beneficial to those who experience many conditions and just how to engage with this community.

The DILEMMA session will not just be teaching you what to do. You will learn how to:

  • Change your verbal and physical approach to suit the partisan’s condition

  • Decide which exercises, moves and practices are generally preferred

  • Ensure the environment suits the individual – especially in group activities

It’s easy to sign up and get involved… click here

 

Website: https://www.mmarap.co.uk/   contact: communications@mmarap.co.uk

 

 

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First-ever visually impaired netball in London!

Photo of London Pulse player jumping high and saving the ball from the net in a stadium text says Metro Blind Sport and London Pulse bring visually Impaired Netball to London!
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Metro Blind Sport and London Pulse bring visually impaired netball to London!

Metro Blind Sport is delighted to announce the dates for the first-ever netball skills coaching with London Pulse, London’s only Vitality Netball Superleague Club.  These sessions are designed to open up access to netball for those living and working in London that are visually impaired or blind.

The netball skills sessions will take place at the Score Centre in Leyton with London Pulse Community Lead Lisa Brown. Lisa and a team of London Pulse volunteers completed visual awareness training with Metro Blind Sport before the first lockdown and have been excited for weeks to get these skills sessions started.

The project welcomes blind and partially sighted people of all ages and abilities from across London to take part in the six-week course. The course will start at 5.30 pm on the 22nd June and run every week until the 27th July. The 1-hour weekly session on a Tuesday evening will be led by qualified coaches in a covid secure environment. The project will deliver the skills and techniques played in netball and they are free to attend.

Netball Sessions List

 

Sam Bird, Head Coach and CEO, London Pulse commented:

“Our London Pulse coaches and volunteers have been excited to get these sessions underway ever since they participated in the training. The opportunity to bring netball to those that are visually impaired or blind is one that we relish and are proud to be a part of.  Netball is for everyone and we cannot wait to meet those taking part.”

Martin Symcox, CEO, Metro Blind Sport said:

“Having the opportunity to work with London’s Vitality Netball Superleague Club provides blind and partially sighted Londoners with a fantastic opportunity to receive expert coaching from the London Pulse Netball team. This past year has highlighted just how important it is to be active, and we know that disabled people have been hit hardest by the pandemic. Having something new and unique for our members to take part in is really exciting for Metro Blind Sport to be part of.”

Anyone interested in taking part in the netball project with London Pulse and Metro Blind Sport should email: Lisa Brown lisa.brown@londonpulsenetball.com

 

Metro Blind Sports Links & Social Networks

Get all the latest blind & partially sighted event information & news as soon as we do!

Metro Blind Sport:  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  LinkedIn

 

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First-ever visually impaired netball in London!

Photo of London Pulse player jumping high and saving the ball from the net in a stadium text says Metro Blind Sport and London Pulse bring visually Impaired Netball to London!
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Metro Blind Sport and London Pulse bring visually impaired netball to London!

Metro Blind Sport is delighted to announce the dates for the first-ever netball skills coaching with London Pulse, London’s only Vitality Netball Superleague Club.  These sessions are designed to open up access to netball for those living and working in London that are visually impaired or blind.

The netball skills sessions will take place at the Score Centre in Leyton with London Pulse Community Lead Lisa Brown. Lisa and a team of London Pulse volunteers completed visual awareness training with Metro Blind Sport before the first lockdown and have been excited for weeks to get these skills sessions started.

The project welcomes blind and partially sighted people of all ages and abilities from across London to take part in the six-week course. The course will start at 5.30 pm on the 22nd June and run every week until the 27th July. The 1-hour weekly session on a Tuesday evening will be led by qualified coaches in a covid secure environment. The project will deliver the skills and techniques played in netball and they are free to attend.

Sam Bird, Head Coach and CEO, London Pulse commented:

“Our London Pulse coaches and volunteers have been excited to get these sessions underway ever since they participated in the training. The opportunity to bring netball to those that are visually impaired or blind is one that we relish and are proud to be a part of.  Netball is for everyone and we cannot wait to meet those taking part.”

Martin Symcox, CEO, Metro Blind Sport said:

“Having the opportunity to work with London’s Vitality Netball Superleague Club provides blind and partially sighted Londoners with a fantastic opportunity to receive expert coaching from the London Pulse Netball team. This past year has highlighted just how important it is to be active, and we know that disabled people have been hit hardest by the pandemic. Having something new and unique for our members to take part in is really exciting for Metro Blind Sport to be part of.”

Anyone interested in taking part in the netball project with London Pulse and Metro Blind Sport should email: Lisa Brown lisa.brown@londonpulsenetball.com

 

Metro Blind Sports Links & Social Networks

Get all the latest blind & partially sighted event information & news as soon as we do!

Metro Blind Sport:  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  LinkedIn

 

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Cycling ‘Side-by-Side’ for 5 weeks!

Photo of Marvel, enjoying a family birthday ebike ride with her sons in Hyde Park Text says 5 weeks of cycling and no signs of slowing down
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We’ve been cycling ‘Side-by-Side’ for 5 weeks and we show no signs of slowing down!

For 5 weeks now, every Tuesday and Wednesday morning, we have been taking Metro Blind Sport members, friends and family out on the Bikeworks Ride Side-by-Side e-cycle around London, primarily the west of London.

Thanks to support from the Edward Gostling Foundation and Thomas Pocklington Trust we have funding in place to deliver this enjoyable cycling programme for another 20 weeks.

Each week we have welcomed new riders and we have been pleased to have people returning to cycle week after week. So why are we having great success with this project? Firstly, the concept is straightforward, the trained cycle pilot will pick people up from their requested location (home or elsewhere) and take them on a journey around the local parks and quiet back streets, provide audio description throughout, and return them back to where they want to go to. Just so simple!

Not only is it a simple concept, but it is also simple to take part as well. Participants can choose to pedal as much or as little as they want as all the pedals are independent of each other. Plus, the cycle is an e-cycle, so we have battery power when we need it. If you really wanted, you could simply relax and enjoy the fresh air!

Anil Kanani, Metro Blind Sport member, has been along every week and says,

‘I have always wanted to cycle, but being visually impaired made that impossible, so I thought, until Metro Blind Sport made the impossible possible. I have cycled around Wormwood Scrubs Park, Kensington Park and Gardens, and Hyde Park as well as some of the streets of London. It is a fantastic experience and good for my health and wellbeing. The two pilots, Nikki and Richard, I have cycled with are brilliant; they describe where we are going and point out places of interest. They have also given me the opportunity to pilot the cycle, for a short while, in a safe and controlled environment. If you are not sure about trying, I would recommend you give it a go. If you are anything like me, you will be hooked on it.’

So far, we have cycled in Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Ravenscourt Park, Little Wormwood Scrubs, by the Thames and explored the back streets of Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham.

We certainly stand out as the cycle looks quite different to a standard cycle. We have been receiving waves and comments from people in every location we have been. We have even been approached whilst out and about by enthusiastic family and friends wishing to find out how their visually impaired relatives could get involved!

Another clear advantage of this programme is about it being social. The cycle can take 3 people at the same time, along with the pilot. It can be social because you can organise with Metro Blind Sport to come along with friends and family. Similarly, you can come alone and meet other participants joining for the first time. Already we have seen friendships happening and people booking in to return at the same time, with the same people each week.

Marvel Opara came along on her birthday with her two sons,

‘It is really nice to sit at the front and feel like I’m in charge of the bike. It’s a wonderful way to travel. Talking, laughing and being sung happy birthday too! It was so much fun, and I would recommend it to everyone!’

Simple, social but also practical. Ride Side-by-Side has also been used as an alternative free taxi service and that is fine with us. Participants can choose to go shopping, go to a bank, visit a friend, or go to the temple on the cycle. All of these have happened in the first 5 weeks and they have happened whilst getting some gentle exercise at the same time.

So, what’s next? Well, we will certainly be looking forward to welcoming people to return and have another go as well as opening up opportunities to blind and partially sighted people that want to give it a try for the first time. As the evenings get warmer, we will try some sessions in the evening after regular working hours and might even broaden the locations where we cycle to give more opportunities for people to take part. As news spreads about the project on our social media channels and by word of mouth then I’m sure the demand will increase, already enquiries are rising every week.

Nikki Ray is the Project Manager for the Ride Side by Side project with Bikeworks, she says,

‘I’ve been having such a great time being a cycle pilot in our collaboration with Metro Blind Sport. Over the weeks we have been able to diversify our journeys to ride alongside the River Thames and take participants to visit the bank or the temple. We want as many people to be able to experience the joy of going out for a cycle, so if you haven’t yet I really encourage you to sign up and come along to try out our unique side-by-side cycles. This cycle is like no other, instead of a saddle you are sitting on a padded chair next to someone else that you can chat to, so come and join us for a relaxing cycle.’

This project has certainly provided something new for Metro Blind Sport members and friends. There are no catches, no charges, and just an opportunity to get together with others and do as little or as much pedalling as you want to. If you feel like giving it a try, then get in contact with us. You just might become a regular rider like many others have already!

Next 6 cycling events below

 

Stay up to date with all the latest developments of the Ride Side by Side project by checking out our social pages, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

 

 

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News & Events Update – 28 April

Metro Blind Sport logo with a blue tinted spotlight behind it and a faded image of a tennis player returning a low the ball and the text saying Wednesday 28 April Weekly Events & News Update!
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Our return to play has continued strongly in the past week. Attendances at the activities that we have been running continue to be positive. Check out the latest on offer this week.

Tennis

 Now that we are back on court, we have decided to stop the online sessions. We want to thank Mark and Linda for their support and coaching with these sessions and the players who joined in. Online activity started just after the first lockdown, and we are pleased to have provided this service for so long.

We will return on court in the second week in May, so please use the links below to book your place.

If you are interested in playing for the first time, please contact Lucy charlie.raven@metroblindposrt.org 07956 292046. It has been terrific to see new members come along since we have restarted tennis.

 

Bowls

 The Metro Blind Sport bowls sessions will be continuing at the Paddington Sports Club every Thursday at 3 pm for those that want to join a friendly game. The new venue has been very welcoming, and the players have settled in nicely to the sports club.

If you are interested in playing for the first time, newcomers are very much welcome to come along and try bowls. Please contact Charlie lucy.simper@metroblindsport.org 07956 292046.

 

Football

The sessions for partially sighted players are occurring every Tuesday evening at the Score Centre from 6.30 pm until 8.30 pm

Please book in advance using the link below. Players should not attend if they have not booked in advance.

If you are interested in playing, Please contact Charlie lucy.simper@metroblindsport.org 07956 292046 or Gareth Jones gareth.jones@tottenhamhotspur.com.

 

Cricket

 The team are always hoping to invite new Metro Blind Sport members to play the game, and we invite any new players to come along to a training session and a net session at Highgate Woods. These sessions occur every Tuesday at 5.30 pm.

The Metro Devils congregated at Highgate Woods on Saturday for the first practise session as a team since September 2019. You wouldn’t have known it. Metro scorer, Paul Toplis, organised the players into pairs, and everyone got a chance to bat and bowl on a typically windy afternoon on the slope of the home pitch.

The players are keen for the season and the competitive matches to start. You can read more about their practice session here: https://blindsport.uk/CricketInTheWoods

We welcome players who have never played before or perhaps haven’t played for some time. If you are interested in playing this season or taking part in training sessions, please contact our Sport Lead for cricket, Rory Field rory.field74@gmail.com  07742 323224 or contact Lucy lucy.simper@metroblindsport.org 07956 292046.

 

Ride Side-by-Side with Bikeworks and Metro Blind Sport

 It has been a few weeks since we started this new project, so I wrote a short article about the project with input from people who have attended and from our partner organisation, Bikeworks. You can read the article here: http://blindsport.uk/5WeeksCycling

If you want to have a go, then get in contact. You can come along by yourself or arrange to bring along a friend or family member. This is precisely, what happened last week when Marvel came along with her two sons. You can book in for one session or a series of sessions, and the great news is, the sessions are all free! The sessions in May will be on the following days:

  • Tuesday 4 May
  • Wednesday 5 May
  • Tuesday 11 May
  • Wednesday 12 May
  • Tuesday 18 May
  • Wednesday 19 May
  • Tuesday 25 May
  • Wednesday 26 May

There will be two time slots available for you to choose from on each of the days. Session 1 is from 9.30 am until 11 am, and session 2 is from 11.30 am until 1 pm.

If you would like to join a session, please contact Nikki Ray from Bikeworks Nikki.Ray@bikeworks.org.uk 07833757954.

 

Shape up with Spurs

Sessions continue on Zoom on Wednesday’s at 2 pm. If you wish to register interest or find out more, please contact: Adam Millar  07392091327 Adam.millar@tottenhamhotspur.com

Running 

Achilles International

 The regular weekly group runs have restarted, and Achilles International are now training in Hyde Park on a Thursday at 6.30 pm. For more information about these free sessions, please contact Chris Blackabee chrisblackabee@gmail.com or visit the Achilles International UK Facebook page https://tinyurl.com/AchillesRuns

 

Parkrun

When the Government published their Roadmap for England back in February, Parkrun announced their intent to reopen English junior events on Sunday 11 April and English 5k events on Saturday 5 June. Since then, junior parkrun has returned successfully, and they now have 155 junior events in England either reopened or with a confirmed start date over the next few weeks.

Keep up to date with their latest news about adult sessions restarting here https://tinyurl.com/ParkrunRestarting

 

Swimming

Swimming lessons will soon be available again to Metro Blind Sport members. Metro Blind Sport, in partnership with Ealing Swimming Club and Everyone Active, will once again offer discounted lessons. This service was well used prior to the lockdown, and we are pleased that it will be back up and running in mid-May.

We will be offering one to one swimming lessons, as we believe this is the best way to start if you have always wanted to try swimming but need that one to one support.

Thanks to our great partners and coach at the Ealing Swimming Club, it may be possible to be flexible with times or days, with the one to one swimming sessions. As always, sessions will be subject to coach availability.

Dates, timings, and costs will be detailed in next week’s newsletter, but if you are interested in coming along, please contact Charlie lucy.simper@metroblindsport.org 07956 292046.

 

Volunteers

Metro Blind Sport would not be able to do the things that we deliver without the fantastic support of our volunteers. If you have a family member or friends who would be keen to get involved and volunteer with Metro Blind Sport, please ask them to contact Martin martin.symcox@metroblindsport.org.

Volunteering can come in many forms, from helping people to play sports or to help people to travel to activities or promote our activities. We welcome all the help we can get, so please encourage friends to get in touch.

 

News

 

Katriona Taylor

International vocalist Katriona Taylor and her band will be streaming live on Saturday 15 May at 8.30 pm.

Katriona Taylor and her band lock down in the studio to stream a live show to you. Don’t miss Katriona singing a great selection of Jazz, Latin & Soul songs, with full HD pictures and top-quality stereo sound to create an incredible music vibe.

This show is hot off the heels of her latest album launch, Blind Passion. This live show will be streamed FREE to watch, purely for your enjoyment.

To get your free tickets, register here:  https://tinyurl.com/KatrionaT

 

 

London Vision

Our friends over at London Vision have another packed week of activities this week.

2020 a year to remember – Thursday 29 April 6 pm -7.30 pm.

Renu, London Vision’s enthusiastic virtual intern will be chairing this session, which is an opportunity for you to share your experiences of living with sight loss throughout a pandemic.

Friday Lunchtime drop-in – let’s talk AT 1 pm – 2 pm.

London Vision’s weekly drop-in session to chat assistive technology, no script plan, just come along and ask your questions about assistive technology. Graham Page from Thomas Pocklington Trust supports this session to join; click here: https://tinyurl.com/LetsTalkAT and click the launch meeting button at 1 pm on any Friday.

All things Reading – Tuesday 4 May 6 pm-7.30 pm.

Exploring the joy of listening to books. Paul Porter RNIBs Digital Manager will lead the session and explain how to make the most of RNIB’s Reading Services.

 

Certification and Registration, your rights and benefits – Wednesday 5 May 6 pm – 7.30 pm. 

Exploring the benefits being registered partially sighted or blind brings along with your rights to accessible services and more.

Their sessions take place on Zoom, but if you’ve never done it before or are having difficulties, they can dial you in to the meeting on your phone. For further information or joining links, email info@londonvision.org

 

The College of North West London IT Courses

The College of North West London offers IT courses specific for blind and partially sighted people. These are part-time day courses, accredited by City & Guilds, and run for one year from September to June.

Classes are held two days a week – Level 1 on Thursday/Friday 9.30 am – 3.45 pm (at the Wembley Park campus).

At the end of the Level 1 course, students have the option to integrate into mainstream to continue IT at Level 2 or pursue another course of their choice.

For more information contact Gladieth Walker, Curriculum Manager, College of North West London 020 8208 5458 gladieth.walker@cnwl.ac.uk

 

Stay safe and best wishes.

Martin and the Metro Blind Sport Team

 

Metro Blind Sports Links & Social Networks

Get all the latest blind & partially sighted event information & news as soon as we do!

Metro Blind Sport:  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  LinkedIn

 

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