Metro Blind Sport is known to most Members as Metro.

Metro Blind Sport is a London based charity, creating fun, accessible sport and physical activity opportunities for blind and partially sighted individuals of all ages and abilities.

A Video Below Explaining who we are and what we do!

Established in 1973 by a group of passionate blind and partially sighted individuals keen to break down barriers to sports participation, the organisation has a current membership base of approximately 400 and offers opportunities to get involved in a wide variety of sports, primarily located within Greater London.

In addition to core sports, which include Archery, Athletics, Bowls, Cricket, Football, Tennis and Swimming, Metro Blind Sport plays a vital role in the provision of information about wider sporting opportunities to members and the extended blind and partially sighted community. The charity also supports many other sporting initiatives through partnerships with a vast array of community providers. For example, tandem cycling is also offered in association with Merton Sports and Social Club.

Metro Blind Sport has been at the forefront of promoting blind and partially sighted sport since it began over 40 years ago and has played a pivotal role in the growth of sport for blind and partially sighted people.

Many members have worked tirelessly to support participation and provided their time voluntarily to lead inclusion in sport for blind and partially sighted people.

Metro Blind Sport changes lives. Sport delivers many social, physical and mental benefits helping participants lead a more fulfilling, healthy and happy life, both on and off the field of play.

Metro Blind Sport supports all ages and abilities. For most members, the joy of simply being able to participate in sport is life changing. The charity engages qualified coaches, trained to incorporate specialist equipment and small adaptations, that enable blind and partially sighted individuals to enjoy meaningful participation and reap the many social, mental and physical benefits that sport delivers.

For competitive individuals who demonstrate a talent, there are opportunities to represent a team at regional, national and even international level.

Visual impairment does not have to prevent people from playing sports or prevent people from being physical active.

It is no exaggeration to say, Metro Blind Sport has been the difference for so many blind and partially sighted people being active and taking part in sport since 1973 through to today.

If you want to get involved, get active and have fun then please get in touch by emailing info@metroblindsport.org or by visiting our sports pages.

Together, we can make a difference to people’s lives.

Below are some of Metro Blind Sport’s members most popular Sports.

• Archery
• Athletics
• Bowls
• Cricket
• Football
• Tennis
• Swimming

We also work with other organisations to promote many other sports.
Including Tandem Cycling, Goalball – links to clubs, Sailing and Skiing.

You can listen below to Martin Symcox, chats to RNIB Connect Radio’s daily connect show, about Metro Blind Sport and what  VI sport and social events are available for all blind and VI people to try out.

Social Activities

Most of our social activities take place around sport but we do spread and share our partner’s social events to as many as we can, via our newsletter and news flashes in our dedicated social section. Including theatre and art gallery described trips, pub and VI club nights and dinners.

History

Metro Blind Sport was founded in 1973 by an inspirational group of young blind and partially sighted people who were not prepared to accept the expectations and restrictions of the day – chess and country walks were not enough for them! Metro is determined to keep alive this spirit of adventure, challenging barriers and opening doors to all sports for our members.

Some of our founding members went on to become leading national and international athletes. They were also instrumental in creating many of the national and international organisations through which sports for people with visual impairment are now organised.

 

Patrons

Metro Blind Sport is proud to have the support of our Patrons:

• Our President, Peter Baxter, for 34 years the organising brain behind BBC Radio 4’s Test Match Special.

• Our Vice Presidents

Mike Brace CBE, totally blind, a former Paralympic Cross Country skier, and a founder member of Metro.

Roy Smith MBE,  Former CEO and chair of trustees of Metro for many years, and also a former Paralympian.

 

Management

Metro is a Registered Charity No. 1158098 (formerly 268076) and our activities are governed by a Constitution approved by the Charities Commission.

Click here to view our CIO Constitution.

The club is run by an elected Board of Trustees who meet on a monthly basis and are supported by staff members;  Tracie Tappenden – CEO, Lucy Simper – Sports Development Officer and Saul Wynne – Web Manager.

Metro Blind Sport & Thomas Pocklington Trust health and safety policies

All Metro Staff are bound by TPT employment policies and procedures including those regarding Safeguarding Adults and Children.    We also expect volunteers and members to follow the processes laid down in the safeguarding procedures. Any issues related to safeguarding will, therefore, be managed via these processes and overseen by the TPT Safeguarding Lead.

Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults

You can download the TPT safeguarding policies below.

• Safeguarding Children Policy – PD14  –  word format
• Safeguarding Adults Policy  – PD14  –  word format
• Equality and Diversity Policy –  word format

In accordance with statutory requirements for the protection of children and vulnerable adults, Metro trustees and sports organisers are subject to Criminal Records Bureau (DBS) checks.