Jewish Blind & Disabled have joined forces with Maccabi GB to deliver a programme of accessible sports for tenants living at JBD developments.
During lockdown, the health and wellbeing of its tenants was a key focus of their Zoom programme which included a wide range of activities and sessions from exercise classes, pilates and yoga to mindfulness and relaxation classes. Tenants were able to access these classes from the comfort of their own home.
These classes proved so popular, that now that activities can happen in person again, JBD have been looking at different ways to further promote health and wellbeing activities within their developments.
Clive Geller, a Jewish Blind & Disabled Tenant and a Vice President of Maccabi GB and Former Chairman has been keen to see a closer partnership between the two organisations for some time and is “very pleased” that this relationship is beginning to move forward.
He added: “I hope that the future will be bright for both of our organisations and await with interest to seeing how the programme develops.”
After a consultation session between Maccabi GB and tenants at JBD to establish what sports tenants would be interested in, a five-week pilot programme of accessible golf was launched at two of the developments.
Feedback from participants has been positive. Malcolm, a JBD resident said: “I used to play golf and I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to play again. It was something different and lovely to see people enjoying themselves no matter how good or bad they were at golf.”
Another tenant, Diane added: “I have never played golf before but it was something fun to do and it was good exercise for me.”
Following the success of the programme, JBD are working with Maccabi GB to create taster programmes in a range of accessible sporting activities from walking football to archery.
Ashley Lerner, Chief Executive from Maccabi GB commented: “It’s great to be working together with Jewish Blind & Disabled on this important project. We have each recognised the importance of promoting health and wellbeing and making it accessible to anyone and I look forward to watching this partnership grow”.
Jewish Blind & Disabled’s Community Engagement Manager, Simone Mazin added that by working with Maccabi GB it has “given tenants the opportunity to take part in activities that many assumed that could no longer do. It has been great to see tenants get so involved and enjoy the accessible golf and I look forward to seeing how the programme develops.”
