Last week was a great week, with plenty of activity for our Metro Blind Sport members and friends. It was very much about a return to play. Attendances at the activities that we have been running have been really pleasing, with some sessions at capacity. If you are required to book for any activities, then please do this early. Similarly, if you can’t attend a session that you have booked, please let us know to open up your place to another person.
Bowls
The Metro Blind Sport bowlers returned to the green for the first time since December at Paddington Sports Club. Despite the weather, which included a hailstorm, the bowlers managed to play a few games and reported that the greens were in good condition. They even managed to use the bar facilities within the sports club grounds and enjoy a drink afterwards, outside.
Sessions will be continuing every Thursday at 3 pm for those that want to join a friendly game.
If you are interested in playing for the first time, newcomers are very much welcome to come along and try bowls. Please contact Charlie charlie.raven@metroblindsport.org 07956 292046.
Tennis
Last week our members returned to court, and it was excellent that many returned to play, and it was great to see new players coming along for the first time as well. We will return to court next week, so please use the links below to book your place.
28 April 2021 6 pm – 8 pm
https://tinyurl.com/BTennis28April
30 April 2021 – 6 pm – 8 pm
https://tinyurl.com/VITennis30April
To keep our players active, Mark Bullock will be delivering the online sessions this Wednesday and Friday. Check out the tennis group WhatsApp messages for details.
If you are interested in playing, Please contact Charlie charlie.raven@metroblindsport.org 07956 292046.
Blind & VI Tennis returns to Sutton Sports Village *Booking Required*
Every Thursday (Term time only – excluding half term)
Time: 10.30 am – 12.00 pm
Venue: Sutton Sports Village, Rose Hill, Sutton, SM1 3HH
Cost: First time FREE, after that a monthly direct debit of £18.41
Contact to book & register interest: Andrew.jeffery@gll.org
Venue telephone: 02086416611
Football
The sessions for partially sighted players are occurring every Tuesday evening at the Score Centre from 6.30 pm until 8.30 pm, and regularly we are reaching capacity. We are also pleased to receive several new enquiries each week from new players that want to come along. The sessions are a mixture of training and game time and are led by a qualified coach and Sport Lead for football, Gareth Jones.
Please book in advance using the link below. Players should not attend if they have not booked in advance.
27 April 2021
https://tinyurl.com/Footie27April
If you are interested in playing, Please contact Charlie charlie.raven@metroblindsport.org 07956 292046. or Gareth Jones gareth.jones@tottenhamhotspur.com.
Cricket
Calling all aspiring cricketers, do you fancy playing again or perhaps giving cricket a go for the first time? 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 pm.
The Metro Devils are a development club, so an ideal place to begin the game. 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 charlie.raven@metroblindsport.org 07956 292046.
Ride Side-by-Side with Bikeworks and Metro Blind Sport
We have still been welcoming new people along to West London every week. Plus, it has been great to have Metro Blind Sport members returning week after week. This week we managed to take some people out in the sunshine around Hyde Park.
If you want to have a go, get in contact, come along by yourself, or arrange to bring along a friend. 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 April and May will be on the following days:
- Tuesday 27 April
- Wednesday 28 April
- 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, then please get in contact with Martin martin.symcox@metroblindsport.org.
As I mentioned last week, Bikeworks are now looking to arrange sessions in East London. If there are Metro Blind Sport members living in the boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Newham or Waltham Forest interested in riding on the side-by-side cycle, please contact Nikki Ray from Bikeworks Nikki.Ray@bikeworks.org.uk 07833 757954, and she will arrange a ride for you.
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
Online Yoga
Claire Miller has started her own business delivering online yoga sessions. Claire delivered a series of free sessions for Metro Blind Sport last year and this year, and now she has her website. Claire has an online visually impaired & blind yoga class running on a Tuesday at 10.30 am through zoom. www.clairemilleryoga.co.uk
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. All runners and guides meet at Marble Arch tube station at 6 pm, and they all walk across to the park together at 6:15. 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/AchillesLondon
from the Sight Loss Councils
The link below is on Facebook and is a recording of the recent SLC Creatively Active webinar on the benefits of sport and the arts! https://fb.watch/4TOdVLU8ql
The panel included Paralympic world champion and food blogger Lora Fachie MBE, Actor and director Elizabeth Roney, blind coach Sheraz Chohan, performing arts graduate Ada Eravama. The webinar starts with a live poetry reading from award-winning poet Dave Steele and ends perfectly with low-intensity breathing and chair yoga session by Claire Miller. Well worth a watch!
Other Sports
Some time ago, we mentioned a partnership arrangement with London Pulse Netball. Since facilities have reopened, we have been continuing our discussions for netball sessions to be delivered. Next week we will announce all the details for sessions to begin in June. In the meantime, if you might be interested in taking part, then please email Martin martin.symcox@metroblindsport.org.
We have been in contact with Westway Climbing Centre about providing regular climbing opportunities for Metro Blind Sport members. We envisage that these sessions will be available to members from the summer. If you would be interested in climbing, then please register your interest with Charlie charlie.raven@metroblindsport.org 07956 292046.
We have been in contact with Northolt Leisure Centre, and we hope to be able to restart the swimming sessions in the coming weeks. More details to follow once we have everything confirmed.
Finally, we are finalising our arrangements for a multisport club at the new facility in Gunnersbury Park on a Sunday afternoon. We are aiming to deliver a weekly session, and more details will be released shortly. If you would be interested in attending, then please register your interest with Charlie charlie.raven@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 play sports or helping 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
National Running Show
The National Running Show South will occur on the 17-18 July at Farnborough International – https://nationalrunningshow.com/south.
Metro Blind Sport have secured free access to the event. We have set up the code METROBLINDSPORTS on the above website, which can be used when registering for the event.
The National Running Show is a home for runners, no matter how far or fast you go. They bring together inspirational speakers, the latest kit, cutting-edge technology, expert coaches, the best races and a host of tasty nutrition products all under one roof. Tickets are usually £10 but free with the code for our members or friends.
London Vision
Our friends over at London Vision have a packed week of activities this week.
Managing Sight Loss – An introduction to assistive Technology
Wednesday 21 April 2.30 pm
In this session, they’ll introduce you to technologies that talk, make things larger and can make the lives of blind and partially sighted people a little easier.
Story Telling a year to remember
Wednesday 21 April 6 pm
A repeat of London Vision’s popular event that was held before last Christmas. Share your experiences of living through this extraordinary last year. In particular, they’d like to hear your stories of interaction with the health service. Your stories will help London Vision campaign on topics and issues that impact the lives of blind and partially sighted people living in London.
Esme’s virtual friends
Thursday 22 April 6 pm
This is a bi-weekly support group for people living with Charles Bonnet Syndrome. If you live with silent visual hallucinations caused by your sight loss, why not come along and meet others.
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
Add-Venture in Learning
AddVenture in learning provides residential courses giving access to life-long learning for visually impaired people. A Committee of volunteers runs them. They are self-sustaining through course revenues, Gift Aid contributions and personal donations.
Their courses take place roughly three times a year, and each course lasts for approximately five days. They run courses throughout the UK. They are hopeful that they can restart their programme in the summer this year, assuming all goes well with the vaccinations and the Government decisions on lock-down don’t scupper their plans.
To find out more, please visit their website http://www.add-ventureinlearning.org.uk
10% off my Witches, Wizards, and Wands Online escape Room game
The online escape game ‘Witches, Wizards and Wands’ has been designed with vision impairments in mind to make it accessible fun for all.
Hannah from access escape has kindly given metro members and friends, a 10% off coupon Code: MetroSport10
You can find out more about Access Escape and the games they run here: https://www.accessescape.com/
Free online family fun fitness classes
Work on your fitness and create a balanced lifestyle for your family. Join in eight weeks of online yoga, dance and fitness classes aimed at families with young children.
The weekly 30 minute classes run from 6 April to 29 May 2021 on:
Tuesday 10 am: family yoga
Thursday 10 am: family dance
Saturday 10 am: family fitness/movement
All classes can be viewed on the Southwark children and family YouTube channel.
https://tinyurl.com/SCFFitClasses
Stay safe and best wishes.
Martin and the Metro Blind Sport Team
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