The Inclusive Hub vows to help children

Credit: Liam Starkey

for others

Credit: Liam Starkey

different organisations tackling one vunerable people through sport

We send them back home as better children‘ ‘By WILL RAYMENT

Afitness hub which fo- “It’s paramount that the likes of had around 40 to 45 clients per day but it was outside. cuses on mental as well our facilities stay open and we don’t through the half term. “I think we had about three weeks as physical wellbeing do another lockdown because it does Mr Starkey told Liverpool Life: where we were short of staff.” has vowed to stay open affect the local community massively “There have been two sessions per The staff are a group of volunteers to help children over again in terms of mental health.” day in our new gym, which is the and parents who are fully trained, lockdown. The sessions that are provided are Kirkdale community centre, so we’ve with DBS checks and autism training.

Physical activity is vital for people not just automatic and put on without had to stick to the guidelines which They have partnered and received with disabilities and local commu- care, they are specifically tailored to is one coach per five children with aid from a number of businesses that nities and has been made even more their participants. disabilities. have been pivotal throughout the important during the coronavirus Liam said: “Certain sessions are “The children go through all of the pandemic in keeping the hub alive. pandemic. tailored around their mental capacity regulations, they get their temperature Businesses such as Liverpool-based

The Inclusive Hub, which is an so we don’t just hope that they’re checked, they have to sign in, track trainer shop and brand Transalpino, award-winning community interest going to enjoy it, we’ll scientifically and trace and obviously sanitise, have Angel Rive UK and Carpenters company (CIC) put on group sessions monitor mental health and physical a session for 45 minutes and then group. of non-contact boxing for people of health before and after each session.” they’re fed and then they have a cool Liam Starkey told Liverpool Life all abilities. Some participants they The Inclusive Hub has been down and leave.” that The Inclusive Hub have been provide a routine physical activity for have disabilities such as autism, ADHD and Downs Syndrome. Liam Starkey, of The Inclusive providing sessions for mixed ability group since 2016 through their motto, ‘Prevention over cure’. They were founded when Liverpool City Coun- During the first lockdown, the hub was able to carry on as they were able to hold socialhighly appreciative of the help they have received: “We want to make sure that we get the right type of companies, ones that are family-ori-

Hub, said: “We send them back home cil requested Rotunda ABC to create ly-distanced sessions outside. Also, entated, community-orientated, as better children.” inclusivity at the gym. The Hub has they did not have a permanent gym companies that have a genuine

He also said that it’s not just now grown independently and com- or premises to use at that time so they interest in helping people of all ages important for the mental and physical pletely separated from the ABC. were forced to do outside activity and abilities. wellbeing of the participants through The October half term for schools with limited staff members due to “If they didn’t help us then we lockdown. meant that the hub has been getting self-isolation. would cease to exist so every penny

“It’s vital for the local community more participants. They have had Mr Starkey said: “We had to do that they have helped us with or supto their mental wellbeing, physical to stick to strict regulations and outside sessions with a safe social plied us with food or supplied us with wellbeing, parents’ respite, and restrictions that the government have distance with the one coach per five clothing has been vital in keeping us carers’ respite. put into place. The Inclusive Hub so we had to follow the guidelines open because we are not funded.”