With another Fun Day planned for next summer an organisation that provides sports activities for children with special needs is hoping local businesses will step forward with sponsorship to make the day memorable.
Sport4Fitness CIC was founded in 2015 to give children with disabilities, special needs or behavioural difficulties the chance to get together to take part in sports and activities in a safe space.
As it became established, Sport4Fitness found a base on one of the training grounds at Fernie Fields in Moulton. There, it not only utilises the green space for sport, games and team activities, but also provides a sensory garden with a sensory path and sensory cabin, polytunnel for growing plants and vegetables and a six-hole golf putting green.
Regular activities include a football club for three to seven-year-olds, a youth club for children with additional needs, Home Education Multi-Sport sessions and a gardening club. Sport4Fitness also works with other groups, including SENDS 4 DAD, a group that supports fathers and male carers of children with special needs.
Funds are, of course, vital to the continued running of these activities and a significant proportion of that comes from the advertising boards around the adjoining pitch, where Sileby Rangers play their home matches, and which is now the home of Northampton Town FC Women’s first team.
The annual Disability Fun Day is a chance for Sport4Fitness CIC to give back to the community and a chance to open its facilities to new people, business and community groups. The next one, the seventh time the event has been held, will take place at Fernie Fields on Sunday, June 23, 2024.
Rachel Flaxman, Sports Coach and Sensory Playworker, said:
“The Fun Day is a chance to bring all those organisations and groups that we work and the rest of the disability community together to put on a fantastic event.
“Over the years we’ve had support from Northampton Town FC, Northampton Saints, the county cricket club and Northamptonshire Sport, as well as local groups like NAYC, autism support group En-Fold. Activities available include a climbing wall, bouncy castles, face painting and various sports activities going on throughout the afternoon.”
The Fun Day is open from 1pm to 4pm for all children or adults with disabilities or special needs and their families, carers and friends. Admission is £1 per person and previous events have seen attendance reach over 450 people.
“We always get a good attendance but because we have so much space, it’s all very spread out and relaxing for everyone,” said Rachel. “It’s an excellent opportunity for anyone who doesn’t know about Sport4Fitness and what we offer to come along and find out more, and it’s a chance for businesses to get involved, either by helping us with sponsorship or looking into volunteering opportunities.”
Find out more about Sport4Fitness at www.sport4fitness-cic.co.uk or call 07491 306630.
