Send sports club a 'sanctuary' for mum and son

The mother of a child with a rare genetic disorder said a local sports club had transformed their lives and become their "sanctuary".

Rajeshree Shah, 50, enrolled her son Aadi, 12, in free multi-sports sessions in Loughton, Essex, earlier this year.

Aadi Shah was born with L1 Cam syndrome, which affects the nervous system.

She said: "Before he started at the West Essex Inclusion Project, my son couldn't catch a ball. Now he is an avid sportsman."

She added: "I struggle to find places I can take my son where he can be active. I need to trust that people will speak slowly and be considerate of his needs. West Essex Inclusion Project are the only group of people that accept my son."

The group meets on a Monday evening at The New City College for an hour of mixed sports activities.

Ms Shah said: "When Aadi started, he wasn't very stable on his feet, he had no hand-eye coordination and he couldn't hold a bat. Now after six weeks, he can whack that ball.

"That is only possible in an environment that is inclusive with people cheering you on. Aadi gets to engage in sports at his level and the facilitators are so patient with him. He knows he is welcome."

The group doesn't just welcome children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) but their families too.

"As a parent, it's the one time that I can relax because I know my child is being taken care of," she added.

"When you have a Send child, your community shrinks as your child is on a different trajectory. You don't get invited to playdates or parties. You walk home on your own."

She continued: "The club has given me a great network of other mums. We've become friends and we bounce ideas off of each other."

"That's what this project has done for me and my son. They are my saving grace.

"He is seen, heard and accepted, whilst being given the opportunity to explore any sport."

Whilst the group gives Aadi a supportive place to play each week, the club can only accommodate children up to the age of 14 years old.

She told the BBC: "I dread it. What happens after he turns 14? I won't be able to bring them to their clubs and yet their needs aren't changing.

"It's scary. Where will they go?"

Emily Stevens, inclusion and disability officer at Epping Forest District Council, is part of the team that launched the West Essex Inclusion Project, which serves Epping Forest, Harlow and Uttlesford.

She said: "It is something that I wanted to start back in January this year. If you label something 'cricket' or 'football' it can often be a barrier for Send children so we called the sessions multi-sports.

"During the sessions, the children learn how to catch a ball, take part in team-building activities, play games like rounders, build confidence and make new friends.

"It is all about building skills for their future: gaining strength; building hand-eye coordination and promoting mental health."

She added that there is "often a misconception of what our children are capable of" and she wanted Send children to be " involved in more inclusive, free activities".

"We have a holistic approach, Ms Stevens added.

"We get to know our children so they feel safe and secure as that is so often a barrier. We get to know the challenges our children face.

"In a class of 30, that is difficult, but our sessions are tailor-made for them."

She said there were "so many more spaces" for children who could benefit and she wanted more young people to come along.

"We've already trialled six sessions and have seen huge benefits for the children so we've decided to continue," she added.

Beyond their Monday sessions, which start at 17:00 and last for an hour, the West Essex Inclusion Project had big dreams for the future.

Ms Stevens said: "We would love to build a mini-team going forwards. We would love our children to have the opportunity to compete."

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