Now that more opportunities are available to participate in sport and physical activity, we are using this news update to detail what is available from Metro Blind Sport and partners.
Gunnersbury Park Multi Sport Club – Now underway
Our first session took place last Sunday, and we delighted to welcome eight people along. Sessions will be taking place every week on a Sunday, 2 pm till 4 pm, so please come along and have fun.
Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, the project will welcome blind and partially sighted people of all ages, genders and abilities from West London to engage in a variety of different sports. The sessions will include football, tennis, goalball, cricket, and many other activities throughout the year.
The sports are all adapted specifically for blind and partially sighted people, using adapted equipment. They will rotate weekly to provide as much opportunity as possible for people to try new things For the first three months of July, August, and September, check out the n weekly schedule below. Event link: https://blindsport.uk/Multi-Sports
- Week 1: 11th July – FOOTBALL
- Week 2: 18th July – TENNIS
- Week 3: 25th July – GOALBALL
- Week 4: 1st August – CRICKET
- Week 5: 8th August – FOOTBALL
- Week 6: 15th August – GOALBALL
- Week 7: 22nd August – TENNIS
- Week 8: 29th August – CRICKET
- Week 9: 5th September – FOOTBALL
- Week 10: 12th September – GOALBALL
- Week 11: 19th September – TENNIS
- Week 12: 26th September – CRICKET
To find out more, please contact lucy.simper@metroblindsport.org or call 07966260089.
Climbing – It is back!
On July 23rd, we are back to Westway Climbing Centre to resume climbing sessions for Metro Blind Sport members. To start with, we have six places available on a Friday morning each week from 10.30 am – 12 pm.
Until the end of August, these sessions are entirely free of charge. ‘We strongly advise booking early onto these climbing sessions to avoid missing out!’ Climbing video link: http://blindsport.uk/ClimbingVideo
With support from the Postcode Community Trust, the climbing programme is a continuation of the multiple sessions delivered late in 2019 and early 2020.
The hugely successful programme engaged over 20 new blind and partially sighted people into climbing for the first time. Therefore, we are delighted to be able to resume these sessions.
The structure of the climbing programme will be guided by multiple professional climbing coaches at Westway Sports and Fitness Centre, supporting two participants per coach. All coaches have received vision awareness training from Metro Blind Sport to help with delivery and guidance throughout the sessions.
The sessions are open to people of all abilities, especially beginners attending for the first time and want to try something new. In time, as instructor availability becomes easier to come by, we hope to expand the programme to include a weekend session.
To find out more, please contact lucy.simper@metroblindsport.org or call 07966260089.
Cricket
The cricket season is now full swing, with the teams playing league, cup and friendly matches.
Congratulations to the Metro cricket team, who secured a place in the BBS cup final after defeating Lancashire in the semi-final. This earns Metro a third BBS cup final in a row this year at the Northampton County ground on September 4th against the Northants Steelbacks, who beat Sussex in the other semi-final. To read the full report of the game, please click here https://www.metroblindsport.org/cricket-back-to-normal-two/
We are still keen to welcome new players, so why not try the net sessions at Highgate Woods on a Tuesday from 5.30 pm.
If you are interested in playing this season or taking part in training sessions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Sport Lead for cricket, Rory Field rory.field74@gmail.com 07742 323224 or contact Lucy lucy.simper@metroblindsport.org 07956 292046.
Netball
We have two sessions left for you to try before we come to the end of the first series of sessions. Numbers have been growing each week, and the London Pulse coaches have provided fun and exciting sessions. The sessions occur on a Tuesday and will start at 5.30 pm.
To register for the free sessions, please use the links below:
20th July https://tinyurl.com/Netball20July
27th July https://tinyurl.com/Netball27July
To find out more, contact: martin.symcox@metroblindsport.org
Dance Dosti
At the end of June, we launched Dance Dosti in partnership with Step Change Studio. Dance Dosti is here to support you in taking part in regular dance and improving your well-being while enjoying the experience.
All video and audio sessions are free to the Dance Dosti community once you register for free.
You only need to register once to start dancing. Come and take part. So far, over 40 people have registered and are enjoying the sessions. Find out more by visiting the Dance Dosti website https://www.dancedosti.com
For the press release, please visit https://blindsport.uk/DanceDosti
Tennis
To book these sessions at the Islington Tennis Centre for the coming weeks. click the links below
July 21st 2021 6 pm – 8 pm for B1 players and those new to the game
https://tinyurl.com/BTennis21July
July 23rd 2021 – 6 pm – 8 pm for B2 – B5 players
https://tinyurl.com/VITennis23July
August 4th 2021, 6 pm – 8 pm for B1 players and those new to the game
https://tinyurl.com/BTennis4Aug
August 6th 2021 – 6 pm – 8 pm for B2 – B5 players
https://tinyurl.com/VITennis6Aug
If you are interested in playing for the first time, please contact Lucy lucy.simper@metroblindsport.org 07956 292046.
Tennis Tournament September 12th – Booking Open
Booking for the Metro Blind Sport Tennis Tournament at the Islington Tennis Centre in September is now available by using the following link https://www.tfaforms.com/4912801
This event is on Sunday, September 12th – 12 pm – 6 pm and is open to current Metro Blind Sport members only aged 16+. By popular demand, the day will consist of a B1 singles competition and a B2-B5 mixed doubles competition. Doubles partners will be drawn out of a hat.
To find out more, please contact Charlie Raven lucy.simper@metroblindsport.org or call 07966260089.
Tennis – Sutton
Tennis sessions occur every Thursday at the Sutton Sports Village from 10.30 am – 12.00 pm. Booking is required, so please contact the venue to book: Andrew.jeffery@gll.org The venue telephone number is 02086416611.
Tennis Tournament – Brighton
Sound Tennis Sussex are looking forward to running their third regional tournament in Brighton and to welcoming players, volunteers and officials to a great weekend of tennis.
The competition is being planned to take place on the weekend of 21-22 August at Virgin Active in Falmer. Hours for play are: Saturday 10.30 am – 6 pm Sunday 9.30 am – 4 pm.
For more details, Contact Paul Gillet soundtennissussex@gmail.com or visit https://tinyurl.com/TennisTBrighton
Football
The training sessions for partially sighted players are still occurring every Tuesday evening at the Score Centre from 6.30 pm until 8.30 pm.
Please book in advance using the link below.
July 20th 2021 https://tinyurl.com/Footie20July
If you are interested in playing, please get in touch with Charlie lucy.simper@metroblindsport.org 07956 292046 or Gareth Jones gareth.jones11@hotmail.com
Football – Fulham FC Foundation
Fulham Foundation is restarting their blind and partially sighted sessions at Brixton Recreation Centre. The football sessions are aimed at adults aged 16+ years who want to come and try football.
Thurs from 6 pm to 7 pm. For all of the details, please visit https://tinyurl.com/FulhamFootie
Contact Katy Shephard for more information kshephard@fulhamfc.com
Bowls
Congratulations to the eight Metro Blind Sport bowlers who recently attended the National tournament in Worthing at the end of June. It has been 16 months since a tournament was last played. The Metro Blind Sport bowlers played well with some notable winners.
Congratulations to B3 Pairs Winners Marjorie Convey and Steve Simmons, B1 Pairs Winners Keith Brenton and Metro member Margaret Cusker. Well done too to B3 Men Runners/Up Khan Gause, B1 Pairs Runners/Up Amit Amin and Eric Gallacher, and Amit were Runners/Up in the B1 Singles as well.
Do you fancy playing? Join our friendly bowlers at Ravenscourt Park on a Monday at 2 pm and Paddington Sports Club every Thursday at 3 pm.
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 or call 07966260089.
More details here: https://www.metroblindsport.org/sports/bowls
Ride Side-by-Side with Bikeworks and Metro Blind Sport
Remember, you can book in for one session or a series of sessions, and the great news is we are now taking bookings for July and August. Please get in contact with Nikki at Bikeworks to book your space. If you would like to join a session, please contact Nikki Ray from Bikeworks Nikki.Ray@bikeworks.org.uk 07833757954.
There will be two time slots available in West London Tues and Wed each week. 9.30 am until 11 am, and 11.30 am until 1 pm.
For those who live in East London, opportunities are also available, and it is pleasing to hear that our members are taking part in these sessions. Get in touch with Nikki for further details.
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 Green Park, Thurs, 6 pm chrisblackabee@gmail.com or visit https://tinyurl.com/AchillesRuns
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 keen to get involved and volunteer with Metro Blind Sport, please ask them to contact: martin.symcox@metroblindsport.org
Sleep Study
Circadian Therapeutics has recently created a page on their website where they have put together some tips for better sleep and some information about good sleep hygiene. Here’s a link to the page: https://tinyurl.com/InfoNSleepTips .
They are also still recruiting for their sleep and health survey. http://bit.ly/blindstudyregister
Email sleepstudy@circadiantherapeutics.com or 01865 546582
Macular Society
Patient Information Event. The event will cover: General COVID updates in services; Low vision services, rehab services, ECLO’S, MR services and update on the treatment pathway of AMD dry and wet.
For Patients and Carers: 3.30 to 5 pm Wed, July 14th
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81630609498
Meeting ID: 816 3060 9498 Advice & info: 300 3030 111
Access Sport
Access Sport is looking for a Community Coordinator to support their growing Disability Inclusion Programme. For more information and how to apply, please visit https://www.accesssport.org.uk/join-the-team
London Vision
This week is Esme’s Virtual Friends Charles Bonnet support group on Thursday, July 15th and the Friday Lunchtime drop in about assistive tech on July 16th at 1 pm.
Events: https://www.londonvision.org/events/
If you need help accessing zoom, contact: info@londonvision.org
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