A MAN from Worcestershire is encouraging local people to get into sport and take up physical activity locally following the launch of See Sport Differently, a campaign to encourage the UK’s two million blind and partially sighted people to get more physically active.
Matthew Lancett from Malvern has Left Hemianopia (LHH) after suffering a life-changing stroke in 2017 that left him without sight in both eyes. Matthew is actively involved in rugby and cricket and in 2019 was selected to represent England as part of the visually impaired Rugby team at the World Cup in Japan.
The 45-year-old said: “I was really active before losing my sight, having always gone running and played football. Having to readjust and learn to cope with everything so suddenly was a challenge.
“I spoke to another visually impaired person who told me about the Worcester rugby team, so I went along and got involved, and that’s where I heard about cricket. The game is really fun, but the social aspect of it is amazing too – we’ve even won the local league!
“Playing rugby and cricket has made me realise that although I’ve lost my sight, I’ve gained other things through getting active again. It has improved my mental health after sight loss, introduced me to new people and I’ve had once in a lifetime experiences.”
See Sport Differently, a three-year campaign run by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) in partnership with British Blind Sport, aims to tackle lower levels of wellbeing amongst blind and partially sighted people by highlighting the benefits of physical activity, and demonstrating to blind and partially sighted people and the sports industry alike that sight loss doesn’t need to be a barrier to participation.
New research behind the See Sport Differently campaign shows that blind and partially sighted people are being put off from sport and exercise and are twice as likely to be completely inactive as other people.
David Clarke, RNIB Director of Services and former Paralympics GB footballer said: “I understand like most blind and partially sighted people how beneficial it is to stay fit and active, but for many of us having sight loss makes it difficult to actually get involved in physical sport.
“It doesn’t have to be that way and through the See Sport Differently campaign we want to show people that there are local activities to get involved in and we are also looking forward to working with the sports industry to help create more accessible and inclusive sporting opportunities.”
RNIB and British Blind Sport have received £1million in funding from Sport England to deliver the See Sport Differently initiative. Thanks to the players of the National Lottery, up to £600 million has been made available to support communities throughout the UK during the Coronavirus crisis.
• Visit www.rnib.org.uk/see-sport-differently for more.
