Columbia Threadneedle Foundation was proud to support Access Sport’s 2019 “Inclusive Organisation of the Year” award, at the charity’s annual fundraising event. Nicolas Janvier, fund manager and director of the Foundation, presented the award to Ealing BMX Club.
Ealing BMX was set up in 2014 as part of the Access Sport BMX Legacy Programme to breathe life in to an underused track and add to the range of safe, outdoor sporting opportunities for local young people and adults. Ealing is a West London borough with pockets of significant deprivation, facing the challenges of all urban areas in meeting the needs of children and young people.
In four years, the club has developed into a thriving community club, run by local parent volunteers, with coaching provided by accredited coaches – with 50+ riders attending club sessions every Saturday morning. From the outset, the club was determined to be fully inclusive to everyone in the local community – and in 2017 the club began promoting Access Sport’s ‘Wingz’ disability-inclusive sessions to local disabled children and young people.
Through raising funds to purchase additional equipment such as balance bikes, and creatively utilising the field adjacent to the BMX track, the club has been able to provide a BMX experience to literally any young person whatever their ability or the challenges they may face. The Wingz sessions take place simultaneously to the main club sessions, making sure everyone feels included together and siblings without additional needs can ride at the same time as the Wingz riders. At the 2018 Ealing BMX Summer Camp, almost one third of riders (22 out of 69) had additional needs.
Columbia Threadneedle Foundation is the principal corporate partner of Access Sport, and has supported the charity since 2013.
