Out and About charity helps disabled youngsters (From Gazette)

Out and About charity helps disabled youngsters

10:20am Wednesday 26th May 2010 in

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TEENAGER Mark Blowers has always wanted to try his hand at archery.

Many would not have a second thought about seeking out a nearby session via the internet or telephone book and heading down there.

But for Mark, and many others like him in Essex, it is not so simple.

The 18-year-old, from Colchester, was born with Klinefelter Syndrome, which means his bones dislocate very easily, and he has learning difficulties. Until now, he has been limited by the services offered to people with disabilities.

But, thanks to the charity Out and About, Mark has begun attending weekly archery sessions at Colchester Rugby Club with other enthusiasts.

His new-found independence is thanks to Essex County Council commissioning Out and About to work with children and young people across the county to allow them to take part in mainstream leisure activities.

The charity has opened a new office in George Williams Way, Colchester, and has three dedicated inclusion co-ordinators working hard to make children’s dreams a reality.

Angela Cook, one of the inclusion co-ordinators, said Mark was initially shy at the sessions, but after a couple of weeks was chatting, laughing and, most of all, learning a lot.

She said: “He did so well at the first one, they had to move the target back.

“It does put a lot of strain on his shoulder, which we have to be careful about because of his condition, but he is doing really well.”

Ordinarily, parents would research the extra-curricular activity in which their child was interested and then approach Out and About.

Angela added: “I then make contact, go along, speak to the people running it and then, if it is appropriate, arrange for the child to go along.

“We would, on the whole, meet them there rather than take them. That is another part of being involved in a mainstream activity, having independence and being like everyone else there.

“In Mark’s case, I researched archery in the area and found the class, because his parents are disabled themselves.

“The archery group has been absolutely fantastic, very supportive, and he has settled right in.”

Angela also accompanied Mark for the first few sessions, but is in the process of finding the right volunteer or support worker to step in. The aim would be to find someone who enjoys the same pastimes as Mark, who lives in Old Health, so they could make the most of it together.

Other popular requests from children across north Essex and beyond include Scouts, Cubs, Brownies and Guides and attending the gym.

Angela said: “Scouts and Cubs and groups like that are a popular request and we start out by going along and just meeting with the leaders and making sure it would be OK for them to attend.

“Going to those sort of groups is so important for a child and, if we can make that happen by just a bit of organisation so that they can feel independent, then that is what it is all about.”

One Clacton youngster is enjoying boxing lessons, while others are attending gym sessions at Colchester Leisure World thanks to the work of Out and About.

“Leisure World does have its own sessions for people with disabilities, but this offers youngsters who want to be independent the chance to just go along to the everyday sessions.

“We currently have one young person with Down’s Syndrome and another with autism attending the gym’s regular sessions,” added Angela.

The service is usually funded up to the age of 19, so the vital help it has afforded Mark could have come a bit too late, although, with the right grants, he will be able to carry on until he is 25.

The youngsters who benefit from Out and About’s services are also set to run their own workshops teaching disability awareness and making people who run sessions more aware of the needs of people with disabilities.