SEND Sports at Golden Lane Leisure Centre

Working in Partnership, Fusion Lifestyle and The City of London, City Parent Carer Forum have successfully secured funding to provide free sports and leisure provision for SEND children, parents and carers in the City of London and surrounding boroughs until March 2022.

Activities on offer at Golden Lane Sports Centre, in the heart of the Barbican Estate, will be dedicated SEND swimming lessons, SEND football for ages 7-12 and SEND teen gym for ages 15-25.

The swimming lessons will take place in the 20m pool at the centre led by Fusion’s specialist swim coaches. The funding will allow these lessons to be offered to SEND children at no cost and at a reduced ratio of maximum 1:3 in each lesson to help facilitate learning.

The centre team is working in partnership with London’s Exceptional Warriors to provide the football classes and teen gym sessions.

Hannah Bennett, the Sports Development Manager for Fusion Lifestyle in the City of London commented:

“We are so excited to be working with City Parent Carer Forum starting this SEND Sports Project. It’s a fantastic and worthwhile project that aims to engage the children with SEND in the City, and provide some Me Time for the parents and carers.

We aim to engage as many children with SEND as possible, to help them feel healthier and fitter, and to gain confidence to participate in a wider range of activities for the future.”

Fusion understands how important it is for parents and carers to be more connected to their community and will be providing wellbeing classes and support sessions. These sessions will aim to help carers feel empowered by having the opportunity to make choices and have control of both their wellbeing and fitness and that of the children they care for.

For more information about the scheme please contact SCD-CoL@fusion-lifestyle.com.

About Fusion Lifestyle

• Established in 2000, Fusion Lifestyle is a registered charity created to promote the benefits of healthy lifestyles and encourage participation in sport and physical activity
• Fusion works in partnership with local authorities and other public sector organisations, to deliver choice and value for customers, helping them to live healthier and more active lives.

About City Parent Carer Forum

• We are a group of parents and carers who have children of various ages and needs who live, work or have children at schools in or around the city. As a group we work in partnership with the Local Authority and NHS to ensure that parent’s views influence decisions that are made about all our families. To hear more about the forum or to join us call: 07840 570311.