Plenty of Ways to Show Support for Youngsters

Businesses looking to support local good causes have been invited to partner with Sport4Fitness CIC as a means of turning donations into fun activities for children with special needs.

Sport4Fitness gives children with disabilities, SEN and behavioural difficulties the chance to take part in a variety of sports and activities, as well as organising a Fun Day every year where the children and their families can enjoy activities together.

As a Community Interest Company, Sport4Fitness is a not-for-profit organisation, and can channel funding through to those who need it most by using it to continue its community-based programmes at its Moulton base or in special schools throughout the county.

Mark Flaxman, who set up Sport4Fitness eight years ago, said:

“There are a number of ways businesses can help us and provide fun activities for children. Firstly, we’re based at Fernie Fields, home of Sileby Rangers and Northampton Town’s women’s first team, and they can sponsor a pitch-side board – proceeds from that come to us. They can also make a one-off donation or advertise at our Fun Day in the summer.

“Volunteers are always welcome if anyone is looking for a scheme where they can help out, and we have facilities to stage meetings, team building and life-skills days if companies are looking for a venue.

“Any profit we make after we’ve funded our regular activities has to be fed back into the community, so it all goes to help make events like our Fun Day all the more special.”

Sport4Fitness runs a football club for children from three years old up to seven and a Youth Club for children with additional needs aged from eight to 18 and their families. Open green space at Fernie Fields is used for sport and games and there’s also a gardening club, open to all, with a polytunnel, sensory path and cabin, as well as a six-hole putting green. Birthday parties can be held on site and there’s a SENDS 4 DAD group for fathers or male carers of children with special needs.

“We’re looking to increase our range across the county, particularly within special needs schools and secondary schools and outreach provisions, and any support we can get would be fantastic. A one-off or monthly donation would be amazing, but more importantly, it’s a chance for businesses to really get their people involved in something within the community.

“It’s a very rewarding experience as well as being a fun way to get involved, and we’d love to be able to give more youngsters the chance to get involved in any of our gardening, wellbeing or sporting activities where their needs are catered for, and everything is led by them so they feel they’re in a safe space.”