A COMMUNITY project to help people with physical and learning disabilities play sports was awarded over £ 70,000 by the National Lottery.
Defiant Sports in Eastbourne offers inclusive sports such as bocce, visually impaired tennis and table cricket in an accessible environment.
Executive director Loretta Lock said funding from the National Lottery Community Fund would allow her to add more sessions and purchase new equipment as it aims to reduce the barriers to entry into the sport.
She said, “With this support, we hope to grow and bring inclusive sports to a wider audience to ensure that anyone with an obstacle to participation can enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle.”
The project started out of frustration after Ms. Lock struggled to find a place in the sport where her son Callum, who suffers from cerebral palsy and autism, could thrive.
When playing tennis against non-disabled players, he often saw himself at a disadvantage.
The only advice given to him was to play in a wheelchair, which was not appropriate for his needs.
After finding tennis for the visually impaired, she founded Defiant Sports to help Callum and others like him find the right environment to play together.
Callum excelled in the environment, his self-esteem soared and within six months he became national champion.
The National Lottery Community Fund, the UK’s largest community funder, has already given a £ 5 million stake this year to over 100 community groups and charities across East Sussex to aid areas affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
The fund has made grants to a number of projects in the county, including groups that support people with mental health problems, social exclusion in BAME communities, and groups that help children and young people with the effects of lockdown.
Funds raised by National Lottery players for good causes are distributed from the fund; Last year, churches across the UK received over £ 500 million in life changing funds.