Scenario
I am a child and I can’t do everything the same as my peers. My milestones are delayed. I look exactly the same, but my parents are becoming frantic. Extra help is provided but I am not improving.
I am starting to feel that I am different – not as good as other children.
When I start school, an exciting time for most others, children laugh at me, tease me and I struggle to fit in. No one lets me join in school yard games and to make it worse I have to have a specialist teacher in the class because I do not understand the work.
I am not happy about much in my life and spend a lot of time on my own. I hate school, I become rebellious, Mum and Dad are at their wits end to control me and make me happy. I don’t have many friends.
I leave school with incredibly low self-esteem. I need to get a job, but I have no qualifications and limited skills combined with low self-esteem make it near impossible to get a job. What am I going to do.
If I am lucky enough to get a job it is going to be something simple like collecting trolleys at the supermarket.
Then Sport Inclusion Australia comes along helps me find some sporting activities in the community (CRICKET) - No pressure, opportunity to make some friends, chance to develop my skills. Hey I am ok at this. I like this, people don’t laugh at me, I get to wear a uniform like everybody else, I am making friends, I get to join a club alongside some excellent athletes and people I admire.
I am improving at such a rate that a coach takes me under their wing. Oh my goodness, there is an international pathway, a Lord’s Taverners organisation which is also helping me to improve and potentially represent my State and maybe even my country.
People shake my hand and ask me my name and ask me how I am and are genuinely interested in the answer, people encourage me and make me feel good about myself. I want to contribute more and more to gain their approval. I LOVE SPORT.
I no longer feel different, but feel I belong.
Being part of a club and respected makes me want to help others.
This is one scenario, but quite a common one for people we represent.
Sport Inclusion Australia in partnership with sporting organisations and the Lord’s Taverners organisations are helping us transform lives.
Sport is a great community leveller and should allow all Australians a fair go. A chance to be respected for one’s ability; no matter what that ability is.
The relationship with the Lord’s Taverners and Sport Inclusion Australia has now spanned 23 years. It is a strong relationship and our goals are similar the main essence being to
Make a difference in the lives of others
I thank the Lord’s Taverners organisations in particular the Victorian branch for their years of service and hard work to provide funds and moral support for organisations and individuals who have had limited opportunities.
It is a genuine pleasure working with people who care about others