Now that more opportunities are available to participate in sport and physical activity, we are using this newsletter to detail what is available from Metro Blind Sport and partners.

 

Cricket

 There was a great win in the BBS Primary Club Heindrich Swanepoel Memorial Cup Quarter Final for the Metro cricket team at the weekend.

Somerset VI Cricket Team set Metro 213 to win, and Metro successfully reached the target after 25 overs, with Matt Dean scoring 114 not out and Mo Ghalib scoring 80 not out. Metro will play Lancashire Lions in the semi-final.  You can read the full Match report by Paul Toplis here: http://blindsport.uk/14DaysEarlier

 The weather is now glorious for outdoor sport, 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, please contact our Sport Lead for cricket, Rory Field rory.field74@gmail.com  07742 323224 or contact Lucy lucy.simper@metroblindsport.org 07956 292046.

 

Netball

Not long to go now before the netball skills sessions start at the Score Centre in Leyton on the 22 June. If you want to take part, then please sign up for the first session here

https://tinyurl.com/VINetball22June

The course will start at 5.30 pm on 22 June and run every week until 27 July.

To book on to the other sessions, then use the links from the website

https://blindsport.uk/VINetballLondon

To find out more, please contact Martin Symcox martin.symcox@metroblindsport.org.

 

Tennis

It is back to Islington this week for the tennis sessions, and we are delighted to welcome back our chief tennis volunteers, Linda and Alan Almond. Use the links below to book on to the sessions at the Islington Tennis Centre.

• 9 June 2021 6 pm – 8 pm for B1 players and those new to the game
• https://tinyurl.com/BTennis9June
• 11 June 2021 – 6 pm – 8 pm for B2 – B5 players
• https://tinyurl.com/VITennis11June

If you are interested in playing for the first time, please contact Lucy lucy.simper@metroblindsport.org 07956 292046.

Plus, don’t forget to put the Metro Blind Sport friendly tournament on Sunday 12 September at Islington Tennis Centre in your diary. The application form will be sent out very soon.

 

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.

 

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.

• 15 June 2021  https://tinyurl.com/Footie15June
• 22 June 2021  https://tinyurl.com/Footie22June

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

 

Football – Fulham FC Foundation

 Fulham Foundation is restarting their blind and partially sighted sessions at Brixton Recreation Centre. The football sessions are for adults aged 16+ years who want to come and try football. Whether a first-time footballer or someone with experience, why not go along and give it a go!

The first session is this Thursday from 6 pm to 7 pm. For all of the details, please visit

http://blindsport.uk/FulhamFootieBrixton

Contact Katy Shephard for more information kshephard@fulhamfc.com.

 

Bowls

 It is glorious weather for a game of bowls right now. We provide you with two opportunities each week to take part in outdoor bowls.

You can join our friendly bowlers at Ravenscourt Park on a Monday at 2 pm and Paddington Sports Club every Thursday at 3 pm.

It was pleasing to see members of Paddington Sports Club volunteer their time last week to help with scoring and guiding members. A great example of collaborative working at this new venue.

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.

For more bowl Info, visit our website: 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 the remainder of June and July.

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 for you to choose from on Tuesday and Wednesday each week. Session 1 is from 9.30 am until 11 am, and session 2 is from 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 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

 

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 martin.symcox@metroblindsport.org

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

 

News

 

Sense

Sense has launched their ‘Connecting Differently Through Sport’ online learning classroom to improve the sports sectors confidence and knowledge.

Sense Active has partnered with UK Coaching, the UK’s professional association for sports coaches, launching ‘Connecting Differently Through Sport’ as a new online learning classroom to ensure anyone facilitating activities for those with sensory impairments or complex disabilities feel better equipped and more confident.

It offers a mixture of theory, learning, and practical activities to support a fully inclusive approach accredited by CIMSPA.

You can book an in-person or virtual workshop as an individual or organisation here: http://blindsport.uk/SenseConnectD

 

ParalympicsGB join forces to launch From Home 2 The Games

 For the first time, UK Sport and the English Institute of Sport (EIS) are collaborating with ParalympicsGB, Team GB, and 19 Olympic and Paralympic sports to launch its latest search for the athletes of the future – From Home 2 The Games.

The search is the 17th to be run nationally since 2007 by UK Sport, in partnership with the EIS and the UK’s Olympic and Paralympic high-performance community, with From Home 2 The Games the first to leverage the power of both ParalympicsGB and Team GB.

From Home 2 The Games has been specifically designed to engage and encourage young people from all communities in the UK to explore their possibilities in Olympic and Paralympic sports that they may never have thought about getting involved with before, and consequently, discover untapped potential.

It seeks to reach and engage 15-34-year-olds with an impairment that makes them eligible to participate in Paralympic sport and 11-23-year-olds who are sporting or physically active to participate in Olympic sport.

Potential athletes can now join From Home 2 The Games by completing three simple challenges and submitting their results at: www.FromHome2TheGames.com. The challenges are:

• For Paralympic sport, potential athletes need to complete a 20m push or sprint, a pick-up and throw and an open skill challenge.
• For Olympic sport, potential athletes need to complete a 20m sprint, a broad jump and an open skill challenge.

As part of the process, potential athletes will be encouraged to upload their scores and fill in a short form about themselves and their sporting background. Submissions will close at midnight on Monday 6 September and then be reviewed by a team of expert sport scientists and coaches.

 

British Blind Sport

 Following the success of the three year, See My Voice programme that British Blind Sport developed to support blind and partially sighted young people achieve leadership skills through volunteering.

They are delighted to announce that Sport England has selected them as one of only five organisations that have been given the opportunity to ‘scale up’ the programme.

Read all the details here: http://blindsport.uk/BBSSeeMyVoice

 

London Vision

 Our friends at London Vision have a busy month of Zoom sessions available. If you’d like more information or joining links, contact them at info@londonvision.org or call on 020 3761 3651.

 

Certification and registration of your rights and benefits

June 9th from 2.30pm-3.30pm.

Explore the process of being registered sight impaired or severely sight impaired, who does what and how it works. London Vision will then examine your rights and the benefits and concessions to which you are entitled. It’s also an excellent opportunity for you to tell your story.

 

New Managing’ beating the scammers’ in partnership with RNIB 14 June from 6 pm-7.30 pm.

In a world full of good, kind and honest people, a few take advantage by creating scams. In this session, led by Marie Kehoe from RNIB, we will explore how to keep your details and money safe from potential scammers and learn that it’s no disgrace to be scammed. It can happen to the best of us.

 

Life hacks in the kitchen 16 June from 6 pm – 7 pm.

London Vision will talk about gadgets, equipment tips and tricks used by blind and partially sighted people to prepare hot drinks, snacks and meals.

 

Esme’s Virtual Friends 17 June from 6 pm – 7 pm.

Judith Potts, the founder of Esme’s Umbrella, will be joining  London Vision’s Charles Bonnet support group to discuss the latest research into Charles Bonnet Syndrome, the condition which means a million people living with low vision in the UK  experience visual hallucinations.

 

Introduction to assistive Technology 22 June from 2.30 pm-3.30 pm.

This session is designed to let you know what technologies are available to assist blind and partially sighted people and will be led by Graham Page, Technology adviser for Thomas Pocklington Trust.

 

Online shopping 22 June from 6 pm-7.30 pm.

In a session led by Graham Page from Thomas Pocklington Trust, we will explore the world of online shopping when using assistive technology. Renu from London Vision will provide her top tips on ensuring you get what you want and return unwanted items.

 

Sport, Leisure and hobbies June 23nd from 2.30 pm-3.30 pm.

As lockdown retreats and Leisure opportunities become available hear from Vocal eyes and Metro Blind Sport about what the capital has to offer.

 

Every Friday Lunchtime, assistive technology drop in at 1 pm.

Come along and talk assistive technology, no question too small.

 

Contact: info@londonvision.org or call on 020 3761 3651.

 

 

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