A special group of Brimbank residents has given the thumbs up to a new fitness initiative tailored to put their particular passions and abilities to the test.
Scope has run its Get Active program since February, with about a dozen participants turning up at each weekly session, eager to try their hands at different sports and activities.
Already they’ve had a go at cricket, football, and tennis, organiser Amy Marie said.
“It’s been going really well,” Ms Marie said.
“Everyone who’s come has been trying new things … it’s exciting for them adapting to new sports.”
Ms Marie said the program is expressly set up so that people with disabilities can find their sporting niche and test their abilities.
“The whole idea comes from speaking to people in the community with a disability …they said they wanted to be more active and look after themselves,” Ms Marie said.
As well as the physical benefits of the program, which has run at several different venues in Brimbank, Ms Marie said one of the biggest positives has been its social impact.
“I think confidence has been the biggest thing,” she said. “I can think of a couple from the group who were quite shy, and the confidence and teamwork improved the longer we’ve gone on, especially in football and cricket.
“One of the participants has already started looking for a cricket club for next summer.”
While Get Active runs until May 16, there are already plans to run a similar program later in the year.
“It can be tricky in the colder months, but we’re in talks with Gymnastics Victoria, and also [we’re] hoping to do some stuff around women’s health, mental health, and nutrition,” Ms Marie said.
