Multi-Sport Development
Between January and March
2012 COESI participated in a Localities project for young people in the London
Borough of Croydon, funded by Croydon Council. Our aim for the Youth Group
sessions held was to consult with young people aged between 14 and 19
with sensory impairments to find out what they wanted in terms of
activities and opportunities to be with their peer group. We aimed to
provide a safe environment for them to come together to have fun and to empower
them to share their thoughts and wishes. In the time frame allowed we were able
to make contact with 12 young deaf/hard of hearing people and to bring
them together for 4 evening sessions.
We endeavoured to do the
same for young people who are blind/ visually impaired however this proved more
difficult and we were able to work with the Royal London
Society for the Blind and the Lindon Lodge school for the Blind in
Wimbledon to start to reach out to the relevant age group of young people and
to their parents to let them know what we were hoping to develop.
One particular outcome from the Deaf Youth Group sessions was the
introduction of a Multi-Sport session run by a local specialist coach
using sign language interpreters which was most successful.
In response to the wishes of the young people involved we took this further and
applied for follow up funding from Sport England, however we were not successful.
Email info@coesi.org.uk if you would like a copy of the outcome star feedback from the group.
Discussion we had with Deaf Youth
Group
What do you
like to do in your spare time?
Do you enjoy
sports?
How do you
meet your friends out of school?
Have you
ever been to a youth club or deaf youth club?
What kind of
things would you like to do if we started a group?
Have you
heard about/ did you go to the Sencity event at the O2 arena last year?
Sencity London 2011
Sencity is a multi-sensory music
event, which aims to be fully inclusive for hearing, hard-of-hearing and Deaf
people. The event will took place on the 8th October 2011 from 10pm till 5am.
Sencity allows you to experience music through all of your senses. In
addition to traditional artists and DJs, visitors to Sencity London 2011 will
be able to feel music by stepping onto the revolutionary SenseFloor, which
vibrates according to the beat of the music. Aroma Jockeys mix scents to match
the mood of the emotion of the music. Video Jockeys create live visual effects,
while Text Jockeys display dynamic and lively visualisations of lyrics from the
various acts. Sign Dancers accompany the acts to translate lyrics and emotions
of the music into British Sign Language.
Various taste sensations are served to compliment and enhance both the
Circus theme and the mood of the music. The chill out area will feature masseuses,
hair stylists and make up artists on hand for no additional charge.
What would
you like to do at the next session planned – 9th March.
We then have
one last session at the end of March – how would you feel about joining up with
a small Vis group for this|?