Looking back at our second year!

It’s been an unforgettable second year for Parasport powered by Toyota!

We celebrated 12 more inspirational projects with our Parasport Club of the Month programme and featured many more in the Community section.

Add a surprise Halloween fright night with Will Bayley, a public vote to crown Parasport Club of the Year, and brilliantly honest first person stories including Nicola Fowler, Brittany Stead and instructor Kris into the mix – and it’s definitely been a second year to savour!

The coronavirus pandemic dramatically changed the way we could get active. But a club who seamlessly adapted to social distancing restrictions were Leicester City in the Community, who were named the year’s inaugural Club of the Month in April 2020 for their innovative virtual sessions.

Winchester Goalball followed in their footsteps in May, before the summer saw Scottish Disability Golf & Curling, Surfability and Ballyboley’s Riding for the Disabled Association recognised in June, July and August.

No Limits were awarded the prestigious prize in September, Stratford upon Avon Boat Club followed suit in October before Stockport Disability Darts were named the final Club of the Month of 2020 in November.

October also saw the launch of our inclusive Home Workout Zone, a brand new, exciting section of our website featuring a range of home workout videos and online classes, with many featured across our social channels during the course of the year.

Next up was the milestone Club of the Year Award, a gong scooped by Stratford upon Avon Boat Club in December for their inclusivity-championing exploits and mantra: ‘anyone can row’.

Pembroke and Pembroke Dock Amateur Boxing Club were the first Club of the Month winners of 2021, while West Midlands Paraclimbing were the February winners and Birmingham Wheelchair Basketball Club claimed the prize earlier this month.

We’ve also had great support along the way from ParalympicsGB athletes – Chatting to powerlifter Ali Jawad about access to sport and exercise, while Jonnie Peacock shared his top tips for staying active in lockdown.

And what better place to finish than that memorable Bayley fright night, when the Paralympic champion and Strictly Come Dancing ace Will Bayley gave one lucky sports club an evening they’ll never forget.

Will, a Paralympic table tennis champion, made a surprise guest appearance on one of Freewheelin’s – a Birmingham-based inclusive dance club – online sessions via Zoom, taking part in the Halloween-themed bonanza which featured dances including the Monster Mash and Ghostbusters!

And he rounded it off by answering questions in an engaging Q&A, capping a smashing success and marking yet another highlight in a memorable Parasport year.

Thanks to everyone who has supported us over the past 12 months to show getting active is  #AnyonesGame