Bedfordshire Sport and Leisure VI Forum
Tuesday 25 January 5:30pm - 7:10pm
Zoom
Want to find out about inclusive sports in Bedfordshire?
Are you looking to have your say on making sports and leisure in the region more accessible to blind and partially sighted people?
Come along to our free VI Forum!
If you’re blind or partially sighted, our Bedfordshire Sight Loss Council invites you to our Accessible Sport and Leisure VI Forum on 25 January. The forum will feature Paralympian, Roy Turnham who played blind football for England in 2012 and holds the title of two tennis National Championships.
Come along to learn about inclusive sports happening in Bedfordshire, and don’t forget to put your questions to our panel of experts.
The panel
- Steve Halton – Senior Countryside Officer, Central Bedfordshire Council,
- Lisa Simpson – Leisure Development Officer Central Bedfordshire Council
- Kate Neale – Event Director of Luton Wardown parkrun
- Neil Frankel – Disability Tennis Manager, Riverside Tennis Club, Bedford
- Roy Turnham – Professional blind footballer and Tennis champion
Bedfordshire SLC engagement manager, Masuma Ali says:
“Disabled people are twice as likely to be inactive compared to non-disabled people. The pandemic hasn’t helped matters and has seen the number of disabled people being active decrease. the VI forum will be a great opportunity for blind and partially sighted people to start thinking about new year goals of taking part in physical activity and hear about what support is available.”
Bedfordshire SLC member Phil Rutter says:
“During COVID, I stopped going to the gym, and it has taken me over 18 months to start up again recently. Not going out during the pandemic had knocked my confidence, and I didn’t know what support would be available when going back. The webinar is a good place to learn about what is available in terms of support for blind and partially sighted people when taking part in physical activity.”
Book your place
When filling in our short registration form, you will be asked if you would like to submit a question in advance. A selection of these questions will be used at the event.
Registration for the event will close at 12 pm on Monday 25 January.
More about our panel
- Steve Halton – is Senior Countryside Officer at Central Bedfordshire council. He has worked in environmental conservation for 35 years. Steve wants to help people from all backgrounds to understand, appreciate and enjoy the countryside for their physical, mental health and wellbeing.
- Lisa Simpson – is Leisure Development Officer at Central Bedfordshire Council and is part of the Leisure Contracts Team. She supports the leisure provision and centres to engage with partners, service and community projects and programmes. She also works with the active lifestyle team within the service team to develop partnerships and ways to help increase physical activity and wellbeing.
- Kate Neale – is co-event director of Luton Wardown Parkrun. She has been involved in Parkrun locally since its start seven years ago. Parkrun are keen to support blind and visually impaired runners. She is also involved with Luton Wardown Parkrun and Stoplsey Striders (a local running club). She is also an England Athletics running coach.
- Neil Frankel – has been acting director of Tennis at Riverside Tennis Club in Bedford for 17 years, where he set up the first purpose-built Disability Tennis Programme in the County.
- Roy Turnham – Played blind football for England and went to the Paralympics in 2012; he holds the title of two tennis National Championships.