Sports Leaders Go Residential
Funded by Youth Opportunities from both the City and County of Leicestershire enabled a group of special needs young leaders to further develop their leadership skills, 10 already have achieved their level 1and as further 10 are in the pipeline to achieving theirs
During the February half term 13 of these youngsters with a variety of disabilities including 4 students in wheelchairs and some emotional, learning and behavioural difficulties attended a 3 day residential organised by Sandra Pugh, our Inspire to Lead Coordinator, at Beaumanor Hall in Woodhouse Eaves, Leicestershire. The sessions were organised and run by Mark Beeby and Wayne Gudgeon who are coaches in the Inspire to Lead project.
After the initial introductions the group were split into 3 teams and given time to create a team name and their own team and cabin rules which they then shared with the rest of the group. Each task given allowed the teams to gain points and it was also pointed out at this stage that misdemeanours could also mean that points could be deducted.
Following this the new teams completed an orienteering course before dinner and an evening of football and boccia, lights went out well as no one dared to break silence and lose points for their team.
The next day each team led and delivered activities including zone hockey, small apparatus games and an all in game of handball.
Intermittent quizzes were given to break the day and see who was on the ball observation wise and John Duggan arrived to cook pancakes.
Pam Webb and Sandra Pugh observed closely to add marks for social skills.
That evening Wayne gave a speech saying how he had witnessed people’s body language and emotions:-
- Some people had looked slightly worried
- Some people had got frustrated
- Some didn’t agree with others
- Some stayed quiet avoiding drawing attention to themselves
BUT…………………….
He stressed you all have individual needs, some more than others
AND…………………..
He had witnessed team work, bonding, decision making, organisational skills, leadership qualities, role models, enthusiasm, helping and assisting others, patience, wanting to listen and learn and working off your own initiative.
BUT MOST OF ALL FRIENDSHIP
It has turned out to be a calm and pleasant atmosphere, where everyone has had to put up with their normal personal and private space taken away and coped admirably.
Wayne rounded his speech off by saying that all the staff were very proud of all of them and that this residential had been a great success.
Finally, the students had their say, each one described what they had either learnt or had found out about themselves. It was an emotional roller coaster for the staff as the students astounded all of us by being very open and honest, some revealing for the first time issues they have in communication, building friendships, taking and giving orders and realising that they could also be role models for others.
The final morning allowed all the students and staff if they wished to have a go at archery, which by a strange quirk of fate turned the point’s board on its head and an exciting awards ceremony with silly string and an exit of some very happy youngsters going home but asking when could they do it all over again.
Sandra Pugh, Mark Beeby, Wayne Gudgeon, Pam Webb.