Fountaindale basketball session helps create new friendships for children with disabilities
Children and young people with long-term conditions and neurodisabilities came together for an inclusive wheelchair basketball session in Mansfield
Children and young people play basketball | Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
The session at Fountaindale School brought together 18 children and young people with long-term conditions and neurodisabilities, giving many of them the opportunity to meet other children with similar experiences for the first time.
Event organiser Alice Johnson, Specialist Paediatric Physiotherapist at Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Seeing the children come together and realise they weren’t alone was incredibly special. Some of these children are used to being the only person in the room with a disability or long-term condition, so to see them looking around and recognising people who have similar experiences was really powerful.
“What we hadn’t anticipated was just how much the session would bring the families together too. There were tears, laughter and lots of conversations, and by the end families had exchanged numbers. Friendships were forming before our eyes.
“As a physiotherapist, I know how important physical activity is, but this showed me that the benefits go so much further. It’s about confidence, belonging, friendship and knowing that you’re part of a community. One child told us it was the first time they had felt they could be good at something, and that really stayed with me.
“I’m so proud of everyone who helped make the session happen, and I really hope this is the beginning of something we can continue to build on.”
The basketball session was made possible through charitable fundraising by the team, who have raised money through events to fund the first session.
The Trust’s Community Children and Young People’s Services provides care and support to children and young people aged 0–19 living with long-term conditions and neurodisabilities, working alongside them and their families to support their health, wellbeing and independence.
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