A ground-breaking new climbing scheme giving families with disabled children the chance to climb together is set to launch.
ROKT Foundation has secured funding from Sport England for Climbing For All Families where parents and siblings of children with special educational needs and physical disabilities can climb together – which is something of a rarity.
Many great courses give disabled youngsters the chance to climb, but often just on their own. This course is designed to include the whole family group, meaning they can experience the thrill of climbing and urban activities together rather than siblings and parents just watching on.
Our Brighouse-based charity trialled the concept last year and after overwhelmingly positive feedback, Sport England and Creative Minds are backing them to roll it out to up to 100 families in 2024 thanks to funding of nearly £20,000
Katie Kinsella, Director of ROKT Foundation, said: “We were told by a lot of families we come into contact with that having children with special educational needs and physical disabilities often makes it near impossible to have whole family experiences where they can all take part in the same activity. We wanted to change that through the power of climbing – and putting our specialist training, knowledge and equipment to good use.
“There are lots of great courses out there doing brilliant things. Where our courses differ is that it’s for the entire family, not just one participant with additional needs. The feedback from the trial programme was extremely positive, so thanks to Sport England and Creative Minds we can do more, help more and climb more.
“It’s not just limited to climbing because we’re experts in the whole urban activity arena. So families can enjoy rope climbing, harness swinging, bouldering, indoor caving, Project Breakout escape rooms and indoor abseiling.”
The course includes specially adapted climbing equipment like harness swings that can go up to 10 metres in the air. Children can work as a team to hoist their friends and family upwards – and it means almost any child can experience the thrill of climbing no matter what barriers they face.
Cat Clements, head of disability at Sport England, added: “Projects like this make a real difference not just to one child, but the whole family. Data from our latest Active Lives Survey shows that activity is less common for adults with a disability or long-term health condition than those without.
“So, to be able to get children with disabilities and special educational needs active and involved alongside their siblings and parents from a young age can only enhance the chances of them staying physically active well into adulthood.
“It starts now and it starts young, so ROKT Foundation’s work in this area is vital and we’re delighted to support it.”
ROKT Foundation recently opened a new £18,000 sensory room experience at the centre for service users to enjoy as part of their climbing and urban experiences.
It features a musical touch wall, light plinth, Bluetooth musical stool, rainbow ball, UV carpet and projection equipment for relaxing and watching educational films.
Since 2021 post-Covid, ROKT Foundation has supported hundreds of children and young people with learning disabilities to climb, cave, boulder, harness swing and abseil.
For more on ROKT Foundation please visit www.roktfoundation.co.uk
Notes to editors:
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