Sports leaders ready to pick up the pace
his past year may well have been the most complicated ever for the practice of sports, for anyone across the
— and no less so for the Jewish community and its provider, Maccabi GB. We have seen worldwide events such as Wimbledon, the Olympic Games and the Premier League cancelled, rescheduled, or put on pause. We have also seen, in this country, a complete stop to all grassroots and amateur sports clubs. Even our beloved Maccabi GB Community Fun Run could not take place in 2020 in its usual guise. But we have also seen incredible examples of personal and communal resilience, with a huge rise in individual exercise and the rise of virtual events.
For the past year Maccabi GB has provided opportunities to engage with sports through innovative methods, from the Community Fun Run @ Home Online, to PE videos for primary schools and weekly virtual sessions with partner organisations. Now, as the country is looking with hope at the Government roadmap out of the pandemic, so the Maccabi GB sports department is planning the future of its provision, developing new strategies which are crosscommunal, for all ages, all sports and from grassroots to elite.
The aim of Maccabi GB’s sports department is to engage the community to provide the sporting opportunities of their choice, at the level they want. We aim to
Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world and Parkinson’s UK estimates that 145,000 people are living with the condition in the UK. Although it predominantly affects older people, younger people can get it too and there is currently no cure.
While the physical symptoms of Parkinson’s, such as tremor, slowness of movement and rigidity, are familiar to many, less attention has been paid to associated mental health symptoms such as psychosis, impulsive and compulsive behaviours, hallucinations, anxiety and depression. However, these are often reported by people with Parkinson’s as being some of the most distressing aspects of the condition.
At any given time, up to 31 per cent of people with Parkinson’s experience anxiety and up to 40 per cent have depression. This compares to 17 per cent of the general population experiencing a common mental health problem at any one time. This is worrying, as there are strong links between the mental and physical aspects of Parkinson’s. For example, people with Parkinson’s symptoms can fluctuate and symptoms can recur between medication doses — which is known as “wearing off”. If people go “off” and have difficulties moving, it can make them feel anxious or result in a panic attack.
Yet a recent investigation by Parkinson’s UK found that only 20 per cent of CCGs (clinical commissioning groups) in England commission integrated mental and physical health care services for people with neurological conditions. achieve this in two ways: firstly, we want to increase and consolidate the profile of Maccabi GB — many people participate in programmes run by us or created in partnership with us without knowing it. Secondly, we want to create a highly successful incubator programme, which channels Jewish participants at all levels, providing them with opportunities to take part and creating pathways for development.
In primary school we deliver highquality PE lessons for our three partner schools and through our partnership with The Elms Sport, we engage a further eight schools. Our popular inter-school tournaments (currently on hold) are the only opportunity for Jewish schoolchildren to compete in a variety of sports. Over the years, we have seen a clear correlation between our delivery of PE and achievements at inter-school tournaments; proving that high-quality PE means positive engagement of primary school-aged pupils and a commitment to health and wellbeing. In 2021 when school tournaments return, we will be introducing the Maccabi GB Primary Schools Tournament league table, with points awarded for attendance, finishing positions and results.
In secondary schools Maccabi GB works with the PE departments of six mainstream schools in London alone, offering 18 tournaments per year in sports such as basketball, netball and football. We will be increasing this with new futsal, badminton, table tennis, track and field tournaments (to name just a few) and we will continue to explore opportunities to bring young
This means many people with Parkinson’s are falling through the cracks of disjointed health care services. We need services to work closer together and manage the intrinsic link between the mental and physical symptoms of Parkinson’s.
This has never been more urgent as the increase in isolation and loneliness caused by lockdowns has had an impact on the mental wellbeing of people with Parkinson’s. And this has had the devastating knock-on effect of worsening their physical health, too. For instance,
Jewish people together through sport. Also at secondary school age, our sports leadership programme, Leadership by Streetwise, trains 100 participants a year, working with Sports Leaders UK. We develop young leaders who are inspired to volunteer in the community through the prism of sport, often becoming part of the Team Maccabi GB delegation at International Maccabi Games.
Delayed by a year, the 21st Maccabiah Games in Israel will now take place in a survey of people with Parkinson’s, conducted at the height of the pandemic last summer (2020) by Parkinson’s UK and Lancaster University, found 19 per cent of respondents cited “loneliness” as the biggest difficulty experienced.
The survey also found many people felt isolated, with almost 75 per cent of respondents saying socialising with family and friends had become more difficult. People also reported an increase in stress. And, critically, these feelings of loneliness and stress exacerbated their physical symptoms. summer 2022. Maccabi GB, together with its volunteer sports managers, is now recruiting Junior, Open and Master athletes for the third largest sporting event in the world. Athletes, who undergo a trial and selection process, often come in from the affiliated sports clubs that for years have provided open doors to many sports for Anglo-Jewry. We offer an opportunity for people to learn and develop skills in their favourite sport, with the ultimate aim of representing
However, people with Parkinson’s are resilient and while Parkinson’s UK’s recent Time For Can campaign showed the harsh realities of living with Parkinson’s, it also showed that with support people can continue to live meaningful and active lives. This has been shown clearly in the ways the community and groups have responded to the enforced isolation and loneliness brought about by the pandemic.
We have seen the positive way people have adapted, created and forged new ways of connecting with each other.
Team Maccabi GB at international level.
Maccabi GB is proud of its affiliated football leagues, the Maccabi GB Southern Football League, Maccabi GB Junior Football League, Maccabi Masters League and Manchester Jewish Soccer League. These leagues see more than 1,000 Jewish footballers playing every weekend. They are the heartbeat of Jewish footballing life in the UK and we look forward to their resumption in April.
The Community Fun Run will take place in summer and we are exploring all options to deliver the first large communal event in the calendar in a fun and safe environment.
The Play On programme is one of Maccabi GB’s newest projects for adults. The long-term aim is for Maccabi GB to have a presence in every community centre, residential care home and assisted living facility in the UK. Maccabi GB has developed expertise in delivering health and wellbeing sessions, including seated exercises, walking football and exercise classes, both virtually and in person. Play On has so far seen us work with Jewish Care, Langdon, Kisharon and the Association of Jewish Refugees; in 2021, we are looking forward to exploring new partnerships.
We cannot wait to see the community face to face once again. Our commitment is to help the entire Jewish community keep active, returning to a degree of normality, where Maccabi GB will support the recovery and recuperation of our sport, health and wellbeing.
Jordan Sapler is sports department manager, Maccabi GB
From online exercise classes to virtual choirs and incredible fundraising feats, people with Parkinson’s have been determined to stay connected, recognising the huge value of this in helping them live well with the condition.
People with Parkinson’s, like everyone, have had a tough year, but they’ve adapted, made new connections, chosen creative or new ways to boost their health, whether that’s doing Zumba over Zoom or learning to love gardening.
This World Parkinson’s Day, April 11, Parkinson’s UK is working in collaboration with the Parkinson’s community and bringing people together to celebrate the new connections they have made this past year.
But the charity wants to do more than that, as it explains: “We want to continue to help people with Parkinson’s overcome their isolation and loneliness and, crucially, improve their mental wellbeing. We want to tell them that they are not alone. There’s a whole world of support out there. People who care. People walking in shoes like yours and people who want to help.
“This World Parkinson’s Day we want you to try to connect with someone with Parkinson’s. Actions are powerful. Pick up the phone, reach out to someone who needs a helping hand. Invite them to the next quiz night or virtual coffee, or simply say hello. Show you care, because together we’re stronger. “
Go to www.parkinsons.org.uk/ worldparkinsonsday to see how you can get involved and support people with Parkinson’s