Meet Inclusion In Sports – Changing minds and bringing Mixed Ability sport to more people

“We draw out people’s strengths to have the best lives possible.”

– Sam, Inclusion In Sports

What is Mixed Ability Sport?

Mixed Ability sport encourages social inclusion by mixing players of any ability into a mainstream sports setting. It fosters friendships and connections, and develops skills, building both confidence and self-esteem.

For IMAS (International Mixed Ability Sports Group), co-production is integral in all that they do, and their Inclusion in Sports Group is made of 20 passionate sports enthusiasts with lived experience of learning and physical disabilities and/or autism.

How did Mixed Ability sports start?

Starting in Bradford and originally all Mixed Ability rugby players, the members began training other local community clubs about the benefits of recruiting local people with disabilities and forming new Mixed Ability teams in other regions. There are now teams across England and Europe, and as far away as Argentina and Canada.

Through the work of the Inclusion in Sports Group, there are community sports clubs actively recruiting people with disabilities and/or autism to box, row, walk, kickbox, fence and play Mixed Ability squash, bowls, archery, golf, and kin-ball.

Inclusion In Sport achievements and success stories

There are certainly some inspirational people within the group. Anthony Brooke had always been a massive rugby fan and wanted to play the sport but found clubs would offer him the position of water boy, or he would be encouraged to play the ‘safer’ tag rugby due to his learning and physical disabilities.

He wrote to rugby’s national governing bodies and was successful in getting Yorkshire RFU to send coaches to his local club – England’s first Mixed Ability Team! Anthony has continued to share his lived experience of disability and overcoming barriers with others and last year was awarded The British Empire medal (BEM) for services to people with disabilities.

Nathan, another ruby player with the support of the whole group, wrote to the Mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham, saying, “Make Mixed Ability Massive in the North West”. He met with him in February this year. Additionally, Nathan’s presentation to Lancashire Rugby was instrumental in securing a Sport England grant to support Mixed Ability training.

Ella found she was excluded from sports at school, but since joining a Mixed Ability sports team her life has changed in so many ways – she has grown in confidence and improved her communication skills. Before Mixed Ability, Ella didn’t speak to anyone outside of her immediate family. She co-produces and delivers presentations with the Inclusion In Sports group and has undertaken Easy Read training to make their resources more accessible.

The enthusiasm and dedication of all the group members shine through and it is clear they are very close-knit and supportive of one another. And they are determined to make a difference to the lives of others. They want to demonstrate how Mixed Ability sports can, as group member Sam says, “create a sense of purpose and enjoyment, with new friendships made and experiences had.”

Delivering co-produced training, sharing learning and experiences

The Inclusion In Sports members meet online weekly and have recently started to work with SEND schools and those transitioning from child to adult services, explaining how they too could become trainers and make a huge impact. The group also works with teachers, social workers, physiotherapists, trainee doctors, and placement students, and through their collective experience showcase the benefits Mixed Ability sports bring.

Not only does it improve health and wellbeing for all but increases understanding of inclusion and encourages shifts in perception around social differences and ability.

It was a privilege to speak with the group and they should be enormously proud of all they have achieved. We are delighted that they have been chosen as very worthy 2024 Leaders and are looking forward to what is next for them in making Mixed Ability sports a reality for many more people.

To see more of the huge array of work that the group gets involved in, please have a look at their website here.