Exercise strengthens more than muscles
As we all know, engaging in physical exercise is a driver for good health and overall fitness for people in general. There has also been significant research to show that, while all the same physical benefits of exercise apply when undertaken by people with learning disabilities — including weight and fat mass control — there are additional advantages, including improvements in balance, strength and endurance as a result of physical activity.
The Covid-19 pandemic and the enforced physical and social isolation brought on by successive lockdowns has had a negative impact on everyone’s mental health and ability to cope — and no more so than for adults with barriers to communication and who have difficulties expressing themselves verbally.
In addition to the known physical benefits of exercise, it improves the mental wellbeing of people with learning disabilities, as well as helping to reduce anxiety, increasing self-esteem and improving mood.
One of the biggest benefits to increased physical activity for people with learning disabilities is the improved quality of life brought about by greater integration into the wider community and to mainstream activities.
That is why in recent years, Norwood has placed such emphasis on encouraging the people it supports and the staff supporting them to participate in physical challenges together.
Since 1992, Norwood has been running its Challenges to raise money for the charity’s vital services in support of people with learning disabilities and autism and children and their families facing challenges.
UK Challenges include the New Forest & Isle of Wight Cycle and the Chilterns 10 Hike, as well as treks and cycle rides in locations as diverse as Morocco and Israel. As in all areas of life, Norwood works to ensure its fundraising events are inclusive and open to the participation of the people it supports.
The training and preparation required to participate in a Norwood Challenge has obvious physical benefits, added to which the mental determination, self-belief and physical effort required empowers the individual taking part to overcome whatever challenges they may face and to fulfil their potential.
Norwood helps to achieve this physical inclusivity in its cycling Challenges through the use of tandem bikes.
Tandems enable an adult with learning and physical disabilities to be paired with a member of staff, trustee, volunteer or fundraiser acting as a lead cyclist and, by riding in tandem with them, to form a meaningful partnership which allows them to take on transformative physical endeavours and to attain a level of physical independence they might not have previously experienced.
For the people supported by Norwood, successfully taking part in these Challenges not only provides a sense of accomplishment and confidence in their ability to overcome obstacles to physical success, but also crucially breaks down the barriers to inclusivity in mainstream activities and the wider community.
To date, tandem bikers have taken part in over 100 bike rides all over the world, including Brazil, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, South Africa, Kenya, Thailand, Cuba, and various European and UK destinations.
As well as the physical achievement, for many of the people Norwood supports who participate in Challenges, the feeling of being part of a team and treated and relied upon equally by your peers is an important milestone on the way to achieving a fuller sense of inclusion into society.
Physical activity also improves mental wellbeing’