“Motivate Your Mate” is a project devised by the Tower Project charity based in Tower Hamlets. The aim was to improve the health and wellbeing of Tower Hamlets residents with learning disabilities by using peer support to acheive the project objective of increasing the take up of regular sporting activities by adults with learning disabilities within the borough by 50% (35 people)
The course was spread over 6 days to teach the 10 ‘motivators’ everything they needed to know to deliver a sports day unaided in July for 35 of their peers.
‘Motivators’ were given 6 sporting events of which they had to trial and then choose 5 that would be fully accessible to explain and demonstrate on the Sports day. Over the first two days of the course the ‘motivator’s learned, practiced and trialed the following activities; Javelin, Shot Put, Penalty Shoot Out, Relay, Standing Jump and Shoot the Hoop. They were also trained in delivering warm up activities that they did every morning before taking part in the sporting events.
On Day 3 we all took part in a Vallance Community Sports Association PAYP event in Mile End Stadium with the other day services and special education schools in the borough. Motivators used what they had learned during the course to warm up correctly and encourage other attendees to join in.
During the second week of the programme the motivators chose which events they would be running on the day, these were the Javelin, Shot Put, Penalty Shoot Out, Shoot the Hoop and Relay.
Motivators were then paired to their favourite events and spent the following two days delivering and demonstrating their particular disciplines to the rest of the group in turn role playing what would be their duties on the day of the Pentathlon.
In addition to the practical exercises, the theory element of the course was delivered in the classroom. Various learning outcomes were covered including, health and safety in sport and the main physical and emotional benefits of being actively involved in a sport.
Literacy and Numeracy skills were also embedded into the workbooks and each learner was encouraged to work out basic literacy and numeracy problems relating to their sports such as measuring, counting and writing check lists thus improving their basic skills by relating it to a practical activities.
By the end of the 6 day course all 10 motivators achieved NOCN Level 1 Award in Health and Fitness and a Community Athletics Activator Award.
The sports day was held at ‘Play On Sport‘ at Canary Wharf. The ‘motivators’ led and ran the entire day and ensured everything ran smoothly for the participants. There were no issues or problems whatsoever which meant a great day was had by all and all the credit goes to the 10 exceptional ‘motivators’ for their hard work and effort.
Thank you to Scott and the team at Tower Project for everything. Hopefully projects like this will encourage others to get involved and create more opportunities in the borough during this great year of sport.
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