• To develop a database of leisure activities suitable for people in Walsall who have learning disabilities, that can be easily recognised and understood to promote increased use of facilities across the borough.
• To inspire people with learning disabilities to know about and make better use of what’s on offer.
• To educate service providers about the needs and abilities of people with learning disabilities.

The project was launched in October 2009, with the collation of relevant information about leisure services in the Walsall area resulting in a short comprehensive directory of activities suitable for and relevant to people with learning disabilities in the Walsall borough at www.walsallleisure.cswebsites.net  

A website was constructed specifically tailored to the project’s target group. The site makes use of picture information where possible, and is as simple and easy to use as possible. It will become part of www.walsalltogether.net which is planned as a ‘one stop’ portal for people in Walsall with learning disabilities.

A project artist was commissioned to run workshops with a small consultation group (Mencap service users) to find out more about them and what sort of activities they already enjoyed, and those they might like to try out in the future. Some of the young people involved in the project visited a variety of leisure facilities they had never tried before, and a fly-on-the-wall film was produced about their experience.

Activities featured were go-karting, ten-pin bowling, sailing, swimming and a visit to the cinema. Project workers learned that there are some activities that would need one-to-one assistance for learning disabled people. As much as the project would strive for inclusion, it has recognised that there are limitations.

The finished film promotes a range of activities and the fact that keeping active is good for both physical and emotional health. The DVD has been used at promotional events and for training service providers, to show them that people with learning disabilities often only need a more personal approach to make full use of what’s on offer. Catch me’ DVD is now on the Walsall Leisure website http://www.walsallleisure.cswebsites.org/default.aspx?page=25981.

A drama worker delivered workshops in the borough’s community bases (formerly day centres), developing scenarios based around what it is like to visit a place where you don’t feel welcome.

Participants acted out role plays of leisure facilities they had attended and how they had been treated. They watched the film of their peers enjoying a range of local facilities and they were introduced to the on-line directory.

Initial consultation found that people had never tried, but had a desire to try:

• Going to the cinema
• Go-karting
• Canoeing
• Sailing
• Rock climbing
• Quad biking
• Horse riding
• Bowling
• Swimming
• Football
• Golf

Some workers in charge of places where learning disabled people spend their days were shocked that participants joined in and could so easily express themselves, once engaging techniques such as drama were employed. Workers on the project had been told to expect very little response, yet participants in general were very responsive and in some places very eloquent.

The inspirational DVD was shown in seven community bases in 2010, along with movement workshops and a thought-provoking consultation between project workers and people with learning disabilities. 

A purpose of these events was to involve activity providers in the consultation, to demonstrate the leisure needs and aspirations of this client base and how they could be encouraged and facilitated to participate. However, despite invitations being issued to activity providers in the locale of each community base, no one attended.

It also became apparent that the use of technology in the centres was minimal, if at all. Most do not have Internet access, making it impossible to introduce the web site.

A significant outcome of the project is that a follow-up series of workshops with Walsall Council leisure providers around the borough is now being organised, facilitated by heads of Leisure Services. Utilising the inspirational film starring the group of service users, members of the Creative Development Team will encourage providers to think more carefully about how they include people with learning disabilities to make better use of the borough’s various sports and leisure facilities.

And as a result of the project, Walsall Council Sports Development Team has started Walsall Community Athletics Club.

Although the original intention was to concentrate on activities like football and cricket, with the possibility of setting up leagues for young people with learning disabilities, the end result is an inclusive athletics club offering qualified coaching in running, high, triple and long jump, hurdles, javelin, hammer and shot putt.

The club for over-18s meets at the Walsall campus of the University of Wolverhampton in Gorway Road, Walsall, each Wednesday evening between 6pm and 7pm. The cost is £1 and the club currently attracts up to eight people each session.

Donna Smith from Walsall Council Social Care and Inclusion explained: “We are trying to direct service users into mainstream provision but a lot of these young people don’t know what athletics is all about. The purpose of these sessions is to familiarise them with the different branches of athletics before they progress on to mainstream provision.”

Comments from service users at the project events included:

• ‘It was all good fun.’
• ‘I think the exercise in the chairs is a good thing. To do a bit of exercise together is good fun. We used to do ‘chairobics’ every day but we don’t now.’
• ‘I want to go to an exercise class.’
• ‘We all enjoyed the film.’
• ‘Sometimes when I go swimming they tell me I have to go away and come back when they are not so busy. But I’m a good swimmer and it upsets me.’
• ‘People like us get treated different, as if we’re stupid. Yes we are different, but we’re not stupid. We should be able to go where we like.’

Comments from movement workshop provider included:

• ‘Everyone had differing abilities within the group so there was an emphasis on individuals doing as much as they were able. It seemed to run very successfully with high participation from everyone.’
• ‘It was great to have the enthusiastic and committed involvement of carers and centre workers in the whole session. It felt like it was a truly inclusive experience.’
• ‘It was a session full of humour and vitality.’
• ‘An inspiring session in an inspiring environment where there was plenty and varied activity already going on. I found the staff and service users very open to what we were doing.’

Catch me’ DVD is now on the Walsall Leisure website http://www.walsallleisure.cswebsites.org/default.aspx?page=25981

Information about the inclusive athletics club can be found by going to smithdonna@walsall.gov.uk or webs@walsall.gov.uk

Short but comprehensive directory of activities within Walsall borough at www.walsallleisure.cswebsites.net

www.walsalltogether.net a ‘one stop’ portal for people in Walsall with learning disabilities.

For more information about the project in general, and the work of the Creative Development Team, call 01922 653114 or email fullerk@walsall.gov.uk