“Thank you lifeworks It was such a brilliant day”
Over 60 young people with learning disabilities and their families enjoyed a packed day of activities in the Saturday sun at the Lifeworks Free Family fun Day at the Torbay Leisure Centre & Velopark.
Due to Covid the event had been put on hold for 2 years, but it was well worth the wait. As Mark Thorneywork, one of the Lifeworks Community programme officers and host for the event said – “We’ve waited over 2 years to come back together for this event. On Saturday the Gods were kind, the weather was with us and all of you held the space beautifully. It was great to see so many people come along and to give out some long overdue certificates to some of our amazing young people”.
Lifeworks Working in partnership
The event organised by Lifeworks learning disability charity consisted of a number of multi-disciplinary inclusive sports, including cycling, archery, rugby, football, boccia, basketball and much more. With the event run in partnership with many other local charities including, Play Torbay, Premier Education, PHAB Club Torquay, ACTIVE DEVON, Freetrike Disability Cycling, The Velopark Veterans, Lift-the-Lid and Lex Leisure who all came together to celebrate children and young people with learning disabilities from across Devon and Torbay in being active.
Many of the young people we all support have been able to access Lifeworks provision free of charge in the holidays thanks to Torbay Council’s Healthy Holidays Programme and Devon County Council’s Holiday Activity and Food Programme.
“Thank you to everyone”
Sarah-Jane Lowson, Lifeworks Community Projects Development Manager said of the event,
“Thank you to everyone who came and helped this year. It was lovely to be able to connect with families with disabled children and with our local community sports facilities as well as to celebrate young people with learning disabilities who have kept active during the Pandemic; have learnt new skills, and have helped in their community. These activity events exist not only so that the young people we work with can take part whatever the sport may be, but so they can do so with their families and peers. Being able to be active with siblings ‘on equal terms’ is relatively rare and special. It strengthens bonds between family members taking part. For the young people with a learning disability, taking part isn’t about wanting the extraordinary. It is about living an ordinary life.”
Lifeworks Community Projects activities give young people with learning disabilities the chance to make and meet up with friends, improve their health, try new activities and support to achieve their best futures. From short breaks to inclusive sports and our Extraordinary Young People project, we offer opportunities which open up possibilities, whilst promoting accessible sport & physical activity in the Local Community
One parent commented; ““It was such a brilliant day, thank you so much to all the organisers.” With another parent adding “Elliot had such an enjoyable day, he said it was the best day ever!”
Watch an amazing performance of The Greatest Showman “This Is Me”
Gallery of images
Lifeworks vision and values
Lifeworks vision is simple – to support people with learning disabilities to have a great life. We deliver outstanding needs led services to achieve this so that children, young people and adults with learning disabilities and their families can and do develop the skills and confidence to always reach their full potential. This amazing event plays such a pivotal part of our mission.
To find out more about Lifeworks Community Projects 2022 please visit: lifeworks-uk.org/community-projects/
Whether you already join us on Community Programmes or are new and interested in giving something a go – we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch with us to have a chat: [email protected] or call 01803 861069
