VISPA Let’s Get Active Day in Liverpool
Sunday 13 February 11:00am - 4:00pm
Greenbank Sports Academy, Greenbank Lane, Liverpool, L17 1AG
Blind and partially sighted residents from Liverpool and Merseyside are invited to a multi-sport taster event on Sunday 13 February 2022 (11am – 4pm) at Greenbank Sports Academy*, Liverpool.
The Let’s Get Active Day is organised by VISPA (Visually Impaired Sport and Physical Activities) – a group of Liverpool-based organisations who have come together with the aim of supporting visually impaired people to take part in more physical activity.
The event will have activities delivered by experienced and qualified sports coaches and leaders. Sports will include baseball, cricket, football, goalball, tandem cycling, tennis.
Merseyside Sight Loss Council is a member of VISPA**. Sight Loss Council member and visually impaired runner and cyclist, Kelly Barton, said:
“This Let’s Get Active day will provide a fantastic opportunity for blind and partially sighted people to try out a variety of sports.
As a runner and cyclist myself, I am keen for more visually impaired people to get involved in sport as it has a hugely positive impact on your life, both physically and in terms of mental health.
There are so many sports available to those living with sight loss, but often people don’t know about them. Anyone who attends our Let’s Get Active will be welcome to try out any of the sports or activities on offer.”
Matt Cliff, Engagement Manager, Thomas Pocklington Trust, said: “We are really looking forward to supporting the delivery of this event together with our VISPA partners.
“There will be many opportunities for people to try sports and find out where they can participate more regularly after the event. Sport and physical activity make a difference in visually impaired people’s lives, building confidence and improved wellbeing. We are grateful to our friends at Merseyside Blind FC, Wavertree CC, SAVI Northwest, Mersey Sharks Goalball, Bradbury Fields, Lancashire Lions, and UK Blind Baseball to support the delivery activities. This is set to be a fun-filled day!”
Eamon Preston, VISPA Chair, and volunteer for the Sports and Activities for the Visually Impaired club (SAVI) and Merseyside Sight Loss Council says:
“The value of a Let’s Get Active Day is immense. It gives us all the chance to try sports and physical activities in a safe, fun and rewarding environment. Whether it’s trying a sport for the first time or returning to an activity, you used to enjoy. Give it a chance. It could change your life – It did mine!
“I lost touch with sports through university and into employment. I remember back in 2011 when I walked back into a sports hall at a SAVI Northwest session being nervous and scared. Could I still do it, I wondered. The feeling of kicking a ball again was unbelievable – it was football that night. Then cricket next, and I’ve never looked back. I now volunteer for SAVI and Wavertree cricket club to hopefully help others feel the exhilaration and pride I have since returning to sports and physical activity.”
**About VISPA
VISPA (Visually Impaired Sport and Physical Activities) is a group of Liverpool-based organisations who have come together with the aim of supporting visually impaired people to take part in more physical activity.
VISPA comprises of: Bradbury Fields. Merseyside Sight Loss Council. Henshaws, St Vincent’s School for the Blind, RNIB, SAVI Northwest, Greenbank Sports Academy, Liverpool City Council, Merseyside Sport, Liverpool Foundation, and Everton in the Community.