Tarmac Says Farewell To A Dear Colleague with an Inclusive Wheelchair Basketball Session
Tarmac Says Farewell To A Dear Colleague with an Inclusive Wheelchair Basketball Session
“You can’t get much more inclusive than this from Tarmac. Putting the person with the disability at the heart of the event and in their comfort zone. Best leaving event ever!”
It is fair to say that it is a sign of the times when you have a colleague’s leaving party 15 months after your colleague has left, but the Tarmac Ltd team didn’t let Covid – 19 reap havoc in the fun that they intended for Helen after her long career with them.
The fun began with an evening of wheelchair basketball at the Coplow Centre just outside Uppingham and the fun began with none other than Channel 4 Sports Broadcaster, Jordan Jarrett – Bryan and the Mintridge Foundation. Jordan shared his sporting journey from his time in the Italian Professional Wheelchair Basketball League through to the sheer joy he had commentating on this year’s Paralympic Games. The Tarmac team loved hearing about Jordan’s drive for creating greater awareness around disability (something very important to this team’s heart) as well as some of the top sportspeople that he has interviewed. Anthony Joshua seemed to be a firm favourite…
There was no stopping the team bursting through the doors of the sports hall to get themselves ready for their beginners’ wheelchair basketball session:
1) A sports wheelchair each (kindly provided by Sparrows Wheelchair Basketball Club and Motivation) - Check
2) A “Can Do” Attitude – Check
3) A healthy competitive Streak – Check, Check, Check
As the team eased into the session fairly gently, there was no holding back after, let’s say 5 minutes… Introductory relays through to the final whistle saw everyone on a level playing field trying a new skill and relishing the buzz and the challenge of it too.
The evening drew to a close with some refreshments and an awards presentation. Congratulations to Val for your Player of the Match Performance and to everyone for embracing a new sport with such enthusiasm. We might be biased but Wheelchair Basketball really is the best activity for team building and that was definitely showcased on a November evening in Billesdon. Well done everyone!
“Thank you so much for making my leaving party a spectacularly memorable event. I think we should repeat on an annual basis.”
We would like to wish Helen well in her new role and we can’t wait to work with Tarmac again soon. Thank you to everyone for your support of the Mintridge Foundation.
The Mintridge Foundation is a registered charity dedicated to enhancing life skills in young people through sport. We provide a support network for young people by harnessing the power of positive sporting role models. The Mintridge Foundation assists young people of all ages, abilities and physical capabilities to develop confidence and resilience, and creates awareness of the importance of mental and physical wellbeing through sport.
Our team of Ambassadors - Olympians, Paralympians and other professional sports stars from over 20 sports, both team and individual - work with young people in schools, clubs and academies across the UK. Starting with visits including assemblies, coaching clinics and classroom sessions tailored to each organisation’s requirements, our ambassadors can then provide one- on- one remote mentoring in a safeguarded environment, delivered via technology to build a lasting legacy for individuals.
The Mintridge Foundation’s successes demonstrate the incredible power of sport; from a mentee’s selection to represent Great Britain in their chosen field to enabling disabled children to find confidence and happiness just through participation. Understanding life after sport, we also support our Ambassadors in their transition from active sport to the next stage of their careers.
If you would like to understand more about our mentoring programmes with elite athletes and how they can support the young people at your school or club, please contact Katie Smith.
If you are considering supporting the Mintridge Foundation as a business, organisation or as an individual, head to our SUPPORT US page below.
The Mintridge Foundation
Unit 4, Shieling Court
Northfolds Road
Corby
Northants
NN18 9QD
Tel: +44 (0) 1536 447106
www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk
