Activity for All

Rachel Badham talks to Brighton & Hove’s outdoor organisations about sporting inclusivity and staying active during the pandemic

Organisations which provide outdoor activities, ranging from team sports such as football to group walks and runs, are integral to Brighton & Hove’s community. While coronavirus has severely limited our ability to interact with one another and do social activities, it has also encouraged many to explore the great outdoors and incorporate more exercise into their daily routine. More than ever, people are trying to get active and are taking care of their physical and mental wellbeing.

However, LGBTQ+ people are more likely to feel discouraged from joining outdoor groups than their cis-het counterparts, as prejudice continues to be all too common in the sporting world. A 2019 study by Outsport found 16% of LGBTQ+ respondents had negative experiences in sporting groups, with an even greater number of trans people reporting harassment. The majority of the victims said the abuse came from their own team members or other group participants.

LGBTQ+ people may feel excluded from outdoor spaces in general as, historically, they have experienced disparities between their private and public life due to being unable to live openly. A new project, the LGBTQ+ Outdoor Equality Index, aims to increase data surrounding the outdoor experience of queer people. It said: “LGBTQ+ people lack representation, access, safety, opportunity, and overall visibility in the outdoors and in most diversity initiatives.” As LGBTQ+ people may struggle to participate in group activities, a handful of our city’s most inclusive sporting groups spoke to Scene about how they’ve been encouraging all members to stay active during these trying times.

Helena Warburton, secretary of Brighton & Hove Women’s Running Club, said although the pandemic hindered group activity, the organisation is continuing to support women in the area by creating online networks and promoting the mental health benefits of exercise: “We’ve been encouraging daily dancing by posting dance tracks, and checkingin individually with vulnerable members. Our online network has been a place for members to get encouragement from others on days when staying active is proving challenging.”

Brighton & Hove Women’s Running Club

The club is also able to offer socially distanced group activities when lockdown regulations are lifted, ranging from outdoor strength and conditioning classes, to beginners’ groups and a buddy scheme to help people find plus one partners for running. The group prides itself on being a space for all self-identifying women, with Helena and club chair, Imogen Wallace, saying the club will continue to provide a safe space during the pandemic: “Overall, this period has reinforced to members how crucial running is to mental and physical wellbeing and we will continue to strive to be an inclusive club which encourages all women to start running.”

Another local running club, designed with LGBTQ+ people in mind is Brighton & Hove Frontrunners, which was established in 2018. Club marketing officer James Barron said the club’s aim is to be as inclusive as possible, and create a space “where everyone can feel comfortable to be who they are without judgement”. Despite the pandemic, Frontrunners has continued to help its members stay active: “We’ve run online Zoom fitness classes, and we have a very lively WhatsApp group so used this to check in with each other. We even did an 18-hour continuous virtual relay around Brighton & Hove.” James pointed out that LGBTQ+ people often feel marginalised from sports, saying: “Queer people often feel apprehensive, nervous or hesitant about partaking in sport – perhaps due to bad experiences in the past, or negative memories of PE lessons in school, or even just not knowing where to find specific LGBTQ+ sports groups.”

Brighton & Hove Frontrunners

However, Frontrunners wants to help LGBTQ+ people reap the physical and mental benefits of running, as well as create a sense of community. James says that everyone is welcome at the club, and once lockdown restrictions are eased, running is due to recommence: “We are hoping to be able to resume our weekly Wednesday Club Runs, Saturday Park Runs and social events as soon as we possibly can. We are optimistic about the coming year and many of us have already signed up for lots of races. We’ve also got some exciting plans for some additional sessions so watch this space!”

For those who are wanting more gentle exercise, Brighton & Hove Healthwalks, which is part of the city’s Healthy Lifestyle programme, could be the perfect option. Shanni Collins, walk leader, said Healthwalks is great for beginners, and despite lockdown ceasing group activity, members have continued to participate in individual walking challenges: “Our walks are led by volunteer leaders and have a focus on socialising and getting some gentle to moderate exercise. We have kept people walking through our Lockdown Walking Challenge, which saw 150 people take part and walk a grand total of 7,000 miles.”

Brighton & Hove Healthwalks

Healthwalks also has a group specifically for LGBTQ+ identifying people, which was set up in September 2020 and has seen great success. Led by Shanni and Viv Woodcock-Downey, LGBTQ+ Healthwalks is “a safe space for social interaction and welcoming to people who feel socially excluded... Members of our LGBTQ+ group have said it is very inclusive and helps with their anxiety. They have found it nice to feel connected and to be given the opportunity to socialise, and it comes with the benefits of good conversation, fresh air and great views.” LGBTQ+ Healthwalks also hopes to continue working alongside groups such as LGBTQ Carers, Trans Can Sport and The Rainbow Hub.

Shanni has found Healthwalks has not just provided physical benefits for its members, but has helped their mental wellbeing and created a sense of community, particularly for LGBTQ+ people: “Some of our walkers have been with us for years, and they have created really amazing supportive communities, helping each other through bereavements, relationship break-ups and illness. Our regular walkers consistently tell us the walks have hugely improved their physical, mental and social health.” After the current lockdown is lifted, the group plans to “get the walks reignited and welcome the community back”, with everyone of all orientations and identities being invited to join in.

As well as walking and running groups, Brighton is home to a handful of inclusive t eam sports organisations. Brighton & Hove Cricket Club colts manager, Peter Underwood, said local cricketers have remained active during the pandemic, with a busy summer season: “In the summer, we played a lot of friendly games with different clubs – we’ve done a lot since last April. Our autumn net practices then saw 75 sign up with a mixture of boys and girls from all age groups, training four nights a week.”

Brighton & Hove Cricket Club

The club encourages people from all backgrounds to participate and promotes the wellbeing of its members: “We’re a very community-driven club, we’re fully inclusive of all people and we try to get as much cricket and social activity in. It’s so important for the wellbeing of children and adults, and getting them all back into training was brilliant.”

Peter also highlighted the importance of physical activity and how sports can be a mode of social support, particularly during the pandemic: “When my 12-year-old son could meet up with his friends and start playing cricket again after lockdown, you could see him brighten up. It’s about physical activity but also about wellbeing.”

To anyone thinking about starting cricket, Peter added: “We’ll start again as soon as we can. We welcome everyone with open arms.”

For those into something a bit more rough and tumble, Brighton is home to a smattering of rugby groups. Geraldine Brown, chair of Hove Rugby Club, explained how the club has been running throughout the pandemic, but the contact element of the sport means adjustments had to be made to adhere to social distancing measures. As the contact element of the game has been reduced, it’s a great opportunity for beginners to get involved without feeling daunted: “In a time when we couldn’t play contact, a lot of new members have joined as they don’t have to jump straight into playing contact sport, which gives them time to learn the lower level skills and techniques.”

Hove Rugby Club

The club has various groups for people of all ages and identities, and hopes to promote physical wellbeing for all its members, with Geraldine saying how important this has been throughout lockdown: “I spoke to a mother of a couple of members of our youth group. She said how important physical activity has been throughout lockdown and how pleased she is that her kids are involved in sport; it gave them a routine and an outlet.”

Once lockdown is over, the club intends to start up again, welcoming everyone to get involved and join the community: “We all miss the social side and the community hub, we’re all very much looking forward to that coming back. Once we’re allowed to, there’ll be one hell of a party.”

The city is also home to Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents Rugby Club, which was founded in 2015. Chairman Ian Chaplin said the organisation aims to provide a space for LGBTQ+ players. Like Hove Rugby Club, the Sea Serpents has been unable to play during the pandemic, but Ian said they are continuing to give players help with their personal exercise and nutrition goals. The club is run by LGBTQ+ staff, and welcomes people of all sexualities and gender identities: “We are not just gay men, we welcome everyone who can play on our sides or support on the touchline, we want all people to socialise together and learn about each other to create a better society.”

Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents Rugby Club

Historically, LGBTQ+ people have been excluded from team sports, which led to the first inclusive rugby team in 1995, with the Sea Serpents continuing to promote tolerance and acceptance in the sport. Ian said: “There is clear academic research indicating LGBTQ+ people feel excluded from team sport. This begins at school, and is a major reason for the starting of gay and inclusive rugby in 1995 with the formation of the Kings Cross Steelers in London. The problem is, if you don’t learn a sport at the same time as your peers, it’s very hard to start at all. This is where we as a gay and inclusive club give a real benefit. Unlike local rugby clubs all over the country, we are more used to welcoming new players often way past university age, who haven’t played before.”

The club has a handful of events planned in the coming year, with the team going to Birmingham in July to play other inclusive teams. Touch rugby is due to be reinstated in the summer, and Covid depending, the Sea Serpents will be attending Brighton & Hove Pride in August. Ian said as soon as the coronavirus restrictions are lifted, the group will be getting together for “a cold beer and a catch up”.

Brighton & Hove Albion football club is arguably Brighton’s most well-known sporting group. Albion in the Community is the official charity of The Albion and uses the “global appeal of football” to support the local community. Paul Williams, head of community programmes, said the organisation hopes to break down the barriers which may prevent people, such as LGBTQ+ communities, from getting active: “Our role is to make it as easy as possible for people to engage and to break down any barriers that might be in their way so everyone can benefit from playing sport and being physically active. We use our platform to tackle discrimination, anti-social behaviour and promote positive mental health.”

Brighton & Hove Albion

Despite coronavirus restrictions, the group is continuing to help all local people harvest the benefits of staying active: “Throughout 2020 we’ve managed to deliver nearly 350,000 minutes of online support, and the benefits include lower blood pressure, improved sleep, stronger bones and improved mood. Alongside this, we find just as important are the social connections and interactions our participants get from coming together as a group to play sport.” Paul hopes the pandemic has encouraged more people to take care of their physical wellbeing, and hopes as many people as possible will get involved in Albion in the Community: “If there can be something positive to come from the coronavirus pandemic then I really hope it’s a greater understanding and appreciation for the benefits of organised sport and being physically active.”

As Brighton is situated on the coast, many local people’s exercise of choice is swimming. Out to Swim Brighton is a swimming group inclusive of LGBTQ+ people; part of a larger London based club, it encourages people of all abilities, body types, genders and sexualities to get active. Club representative Iain Gowers said during the pandemic the sea became the group’s new swimming pool, and members continued to support one another: “The whole club has really come together to support each other in this difficult time. We have multiple events online each week, including swimspecific exercises and fitness. There are also socials, quizzes and talks. We even had a virtual Pride Month during the summer.”

Out to Swim Brighton

Swimming comes with a handful of health benefits, with Iain saying: “There is a strong link between exercise and cold water immersion and mental health,” adding that the group’s focus is on personal improvement and supporting fellow members. LGBTQ+ people are often excluded from the benefits swimming can bring, which Out to Swim hopes to change: “Historically swimming has been primarily a male-focused activity, and swimming clubs can come across as internally competitive with many LGBTQ+ people then feeling left behind. It’s important that, as LGBTQ+ people, we are part of a new movement of older people who have recently rediscovered sports, and we are able to offer an inclusive environment regardless of identity, orientation or body type.”

Once the current lockdown is lifted, the group aims to get back to swimming as soon as possible, with plans to increase its range of sea swimming activities and launch development lessons for beginners.

Get Involved

Brighton & Hove Women’s Running Club: email secretary.bhwrc@gmail.com, or visit www.bhwrc.org

Brighton & Hove Frontrunners: email brightonandhovefrontrunners@gmail.com, or visit www.bhfrontrunners.org.uk

Brighton & Hove Healthwalks: email healthylifestyles@brighton-hove.gov.uk, or visit www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/health-walks

Brighton & Hove Cricket Club: email colts@brightonandhovecricket.co.uk for the youth programme, or visit www. brightonandhovecricketclub.co.uk/contact for a full list of club contacts

Hove Rugby Club: email claire.slater@ hoverugby.club or geraldine.brown@ hoverugby.club

Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC: email info@bhssrfc.com or visit www.bhssrfc.com

Albion in the Community: email paul. williams@albioninthecommunity.org.uk, or visit www.albioninthecommunity.org.uk

Out to Swim: visit www.outtoswim.org/brighton