The Hargreaves Foundation supports the Tim Henman Foundation

The Trustees of the Hargreaves Foundation are pleased to announce funding has been granted to the Tim Henman Foundation, a youth charity that exists to make sporting activity more inclusive and accessible. It supports disadvantaged children and young people up to the age of 25 by improving their mental and physical health through sporting and educational opportunities. While most of the charity’s activities are in London and the South-East, it does cover the whole of England.

The funding will enable 60 students from Oak Green School in Aylesbury with special educational needs and disabilities to participate in the foundation’s Inclusive Activity Programme. The children, aged seven to 11, will receive year-round adapted sports and activity coaching (approximately 190 hours) in safe and accessible venues. Sports include boccia, table tennis, tennis and fitness sessions. The children will also participate in mentoring workshops delivered by a Paralympian, to improve their mental health and wellbeing, and inspire them to continue with sport.

Local clubs and organisations in the Aylesbury area will be supported to make their activities more inclusive, and the school’s teachers will be trained to run activity sessions for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

The programme means disadvantaged children can receive the same benefits of becoming and staying active as their peers. It has been shown to have a profound impact on both participants and their families/carers by increasing confidence, social skills, resilience and discipline, as well as improving physical and mental health and wellbeing.