Sport and life skills

We offer all kinds of sports for all levels of ability. Our aim is help people integrate with the community and develop their social skills while taking part in healthy sporting activities.

Wellbeing and Physical Activity Service

We offer all kinds of sports for all levels of ability such as swimming, trampolining and cycling. Our aim is to give everyone, no matter what their ability, the opportunity to experience a fun new sporting activity or environment. We also take people to various locations where they can take part in our extensive programme of activities including athletics, golf, football, and climbing, while integrating with the community and developing their social skills.

Norwood is committed to enabling adults with learning/physical disabilities to lead full lives in their homes and within their community.

We actively seek community involvement, as this provides vital opportunities for social interaction, improved independence, community participation and integration. It also helps remove barriers that restrict life choices for disabled people and model best practice.

Examples of our residents participating in inclusive settings include participating in fun runs, taking part in and attending stadium events, football, rugby and Paralympics. Some also take part in the big challenge cycling events.

Our Stables and Equestrian Centre at Ravenswood also offers a wide range of opportunities for the people we support. Activities include riding, carriage driving and horse care, and can offer many therapeutic benefits such as core stability, improved balance and co-ordination. The people we support also have the opportunity if they wish to work towards different kinds of accreditation, such as the Riding for the Disabled (RDA) achievement awards; these support people who may like to work with horses at some point.

Challenges

Norwood Sport Staff support and train the people we support to prepare for and complete many of the international and UK based challenges that take part throughout the year. We also work with volunteers who support people by riding tandems with them.

Benefits:

  • Increased energy levels
  • Improve communication and social skills
  • Decrease resting blood pressure
  • Improve reaction time and co-ordination
  • Improve flexibility and balance
  • Everyday tasks feel easier
  • Enjoyment and happiness
  • Decrease stress and anxiety
  • Improve overall wellbeing and quality of life

For further information, please contact us on 020 8809 8809 or norwoodsport@norwood.org.uk

As well as all the above activities, we also organise and provide other larger scale events and opportunities.

Football Tournament

We organise and run an annual tournament in Berkshire, attracting teams from all over the country.

Outward Bound courses and adventure training

We organise our own courses and also take people on courses run by other organisations.

Special Olympics

We coach and train the participants, selecting the teams and taking them to competitions, supporting them all the way. Competitions can be local, regional, national and international.

The sports involved are:

  • Athletics (training at Bracknell Sports Centre)
  • Boccia (training at Bracknell Sports Centre)
  • Equestrian (training at Ravenswood RDA Stables)
  • Ten Pin Bowling (training at the Hollywood Bowl, Bracknell).

Sports Fun Day

This is a great opportunity for many of the people we support to take part in a big, outside event, which is held at Bracknell Sports Centre.

Stables

Our RDA-registered Stables and Equestrian Centre offers a wide range of opportunities for the people we support. We make sure each person gets what they want from the variety of opportunities, which include:

  • Riding
  • Carriage driving
  • Land and stable management
  • Horse care.

Carriage driving is a great alternative for people who can’t ride, giving them an opportunity to spend time in the stables with the horses.

People can learn one-to-one or in groups, improving their skills. If they wish, they can work towards different kinds of accreditation, such as the RDA achievement awards. These support people who may like to work with horses at some point.

Riding and driving offer many therapeutic benefits including:

  • Core stability
  • Improved balance
  • Co-ordination
  • A sense of wellbeing
  • Improved confidence (this can lead to employment)
  • Competitive riding/driving
  • Looking after the animals
  • Putting back into your environment.