Sport for Confidence - Club of the Month, March 2023

The Every Body Moves team first paid Sport for Confidence a visit in February 2023, who were helping us generate content for our relaunch video. We were so impressed with their delivery at Waltham Forest Feelgood Centre, that we returned in March to award them our Club of the Month. Here's why...

Based from 12 centres throughout London and Essex, Sport for Confidence operate a no labels model, meaning everyone is welcome. Here an Occupational Therapist and a Coach work in partnership to deliver a pioneering preventative programme that addresses physical inactivity, well being and independence within a whole system approach.

At Waltham Forrest, that dynamic duo are Hannah Webster (Occupational Therapist) and Charlie Collins (Coach and Project Coordinator for the National Team), supported by an amazing team of volunteers. Between them they deliver a vast range of sports and opportunities for people with a wide range of impairments to be more active and move in a way that suits them. From Boccia, basketball and boxercise, through to adaptive swimming, dance, gentle exercise and supported gym! 

Speaking about the sessions Hannah told us: "We enjoy seeing everyone who wants to participate in physical activity. It's so amazing to see people's confidence and function change over time... we're not just about what happens here at the leisure centre, we're largely about how you take those benefits and apply them out into your everyday life. I'm so privileged to be in this position... it's just brilliant to be a small part of someone's journey.

Baden Knifton, Engagement Officer for Every Body Moves at ParalympicsGB, said: "What instantly stood out how staff listened to the participants and sought to find creative and bespoke ways to help their activities be more inclusive for every body."

"My favourite story involves group members who built a friendship from meeting at sessions, through this their self confidence grew and reached stage where they felt comfortable enough to arrange and meet for a milkshake together after the class finished...  a great testament to how this programme aids development on so many levels !"

Sport for Confidence are keen to encourage everyone to be their authentic selves, and one person truly living that sentiment is participant Lemar Mendes. Lemar has been coming to the sessions at Waltham for around 9 months, told us: "I get to forget what's happening in reality, I get to be on stage, I get to perform in front of people, I get to show people what I'm made of!" When speaking of the the coaches, he said: "They make Sport for Confidence the way it is, they really make every activity so fun for us, they both put in the work to make each session the best." During our first visit, Lemar treated the other participants (and the EBM team) to a dance lesson he had prepared and it was amazing to see the authentic support every gives to each other in the programme.

"For us it's like Club of the Month, every month!"

Said Cheryl Dixon, who attend with her son Gordon. She went on to say: "We just love coming here. It's amazing how inventive Charlie and Hannah can be, so that everybody is able to take part and feel that they're part of what's going on."

A huge congratulations once again to Hannah, Charlie, Sport for Confidence and all the participants, who make these amazingly inclusive, accessible and welcoming session possible. You rock!! 

Click here for more information of Sport for Confidence and their sessions on offer.