PlayItForward donates equipment to Isle of Man’s National Sports Centre to help users with disabilities stay active in the community

Douglas – Isle of Man, 23 July 2024: As part of PlayItForward’s ongoing commitment to make a positive impact on the lives of young people in the Isle of Man community, it has donated equipment to the National Sports Centre (NSC) to ensure that those with disabilities have a place to learn, socialise and stay active.

Overseen by Gareth Lloyd, IOM’s Disabilities and Activities Co-Ordinator – and Manx Sports and Recreation (MSR) Coaches Dan Smith and Lucas Watterson, the NSC will run a number of activity sessions that are hosted by University College IOM (UCM) students. This will be in addition to a free play area, where children are encouraged to explore and engage with a wide variety of soft play equipment.

While the activity sessions will incorporate a number of disability school sports programmes such as bike for life classes and swimming lessons, the fact that many attendees have a higher level of additional needs means the free play area of the NSC has seen increased attendances recently – and it’s in this area of the centre where PlayItForward’s donation will have the biggest impact.

With the new equipment supplied by PlayItForward giving attendees access to an even greater range of learning experiences, teachers will be able to better help their pupils develop basic skills and forms of communication in an environment where they feel safe and comfortable, helping parents keep them active and ensuring that they get more stimulation from each session.

Every Tuesday, Specialist Provision Centres (SPCs) on the island are able to visit the NSC and give pupils the experience of being out in the community, providing them with a familiar place that they can enjoy outside of school while also giving their parents the opportunity to drop in outside of working hours, oversee their learning and play and then take them out for activities in the area.

As many of the pupils attending SPCs struggle to adapt to new environments, these weekly visits to the NSC can provide a fixed point on their schedule where they can relax and enjoy their activities. PlayItForward is happy to support such an important initiative and will continue working to develop further opportunities for those with additional needs on the island in future.

We’re very grateful for the support provided to the NSC by Microgaming’s PlayItForward programme. The company’s generous donation of equipment will be of huge benefit to young people involved in SPCs now and in the future, helping them keep active while learning and exploring through play.

Gareth Lloyd Disabilities and Activities Co-Ordinator For Children

We sincerely hope that the specialist equipment we’ll be providing to the NSC will help young people with disabilities enjoy sport in a safe and playful way. Having watched Gareth and his team in action, what they provide is so much more than a PE lesson; it’s also about helping children feel comfortable and providing respite for parents and carers – both of which are hugely important aspects for our community.

Kate Moughtin Senior CSR Manager