All Inclusive
Youngsters are loving life at the inclusive youth activity club in Hartington, where everyone is able to have a go at a wide range of sporting activities regardless of if they have any kind of life barrier.
Being inclusive, is one of the golden rules at Hartington Young People Activity Club (HYPAC), with members all being treated with respect and to help each other within their time at HYPAC.
HYPAC enables both disabled and abled young people to engage in various sports by the competent young leaders that help to run the successful and enjoyable sessions, by adapting the games to suit the needs of the young people. For example, sports such as football is changed to allow fellow member Maddie Wager, aged 11 who has a life barrier of Cerebral Palsy, to have a leader or club member to pick up the football, put it on her knee whilst she whizzes off in her wheelchair before throwing it to another team member, or using a different type of bow whilst having a go at archery, with the scouts purchasing a cross bow which enables Maddie to join in with the rest of her friends. Maddie said: “It is good especially now that I have moved up to secondary school and I do not get to see my friends as much.”
Another member of HYPAC, Jacob Blackwell, who is 10 years old, and had a brain tumour when he was younger and since suffers from varying life barriers, comes along to HYPAC and enjoys his time joining in the various sports and activities on offer, as he said: “if I did not come to HYPAC then I would not have anything to do on a Monday night.”
The club which was set up 10 years ago by Liz Broomhead MBE, due to the rural area being deprived of opportunities for young people to be involved in varying sporting activities, which are freely available to similar age groups that live in the towns and cities, and public transport is available on a regular basis.
From parent’s feedback, Liz said “We have gained positive comments and people value the ethos and commitment of all involved and see the children gain in confidence and social skills, as well as sporting skills.”
HYPAC is a great example of how sporting activities and clubs can help young people who have a wide range of difficulties to socialise and keep active whether that be physically or mentally, or to just have a laugh, as no two HYPAC sessions are the same and neither are they dull or boring! Anyone can join in regardless of who you are as Jacob proudly said: “It does not matter what you look like, you can still come here and you will have great fun and make loads of friends.”
