While efforts to get more people with disabilities into sports have ramped up in recent years, progress is slow, and nearly two thirds (64%) of UK sports clubs don’t have suitable equipment to cater to disabled people.1
This is preventing people with disabilities from getting and staying active, with disabled people roughly twice as likely to be physically inactive (43%) compared with those without a disability (23%).2
People with learning disabilities are particularly affected by the lack of sporting opportunities, with only four in 10 managing to carry out the weekly recommended amount of exercise. This compares to six in 10 in the general population.3
In 2018, Jo Brown recognised the lack of sporting opportunities for disabled people in her local area and set up an inclusive hockey club which welcomed all ages and abilities.
Flyerz clubs are part of a wider network of disability hockey clubs and are supported by Access Sport, England Hockey and UK Deaf Sport. Initially, Jo set up a Flyerz club in Surbiton to bring hockey to those with disabilities, giving them the chance to get active in a safe environment.
However, Jo wanted her club to be more independent so that she could attract coaches from a variety of clubs. So, in 2018, she set up Falcon Flyerz. The club is based across Surrey with sessions held in Weybridge, Marlow, Guildford and Epsom.
“I never knew there was a lack of inclusive sport in the area; it opened up my world to this whole new thing,” Jo said. “I went around to radio stations and magazines, and it generated a lot of interest. I found out that a lot of people in the local area have a disabled individual in their life.”
“Grandparents, parents, teachers and carers told me the children in their lives didn’t have anything they could go to that was free and inclusive. They also wanted something that families could be included in, not just the person they care for.”
The club offers fun and friendly hockey sessions, inclusive of all abilities and ages. It enables disabled and non-disabled players to play together, with siblings, parents and other relatives encouraged to get involved too.
“I sat with England Hockey and between us, we came up with the name Falcon Flyerz. England Hockey were amazing and supported me alongside Access Sport to train our volunteers,” she said. “I think we are the only hockey club in the country which is purely for disabled children and adults.”
Falcon Flyerz also run weekly sessions in schools for children with special education needs and disabilities (SEND). Jo says this is where she has seen some of the biggest impact.
“We run a session for SEN schools because they often don’t have the funds for sports provision. There are a few SEN schools who come to our weekly programme. They love it, and we just have a laugh,” she said.
“It isn’t all just about hockey though, it is about being together, making friends and being out in the open.
“Parents benefit by accessing a supportive community who they can turn to and talk to about what they’re going through. We have some lovely parent friendships that have formed.”
By setting up Falcon Flyerz and by connecting with the GB hockey squad through her daughter, Autumn Brown, who played for the England Under 18s, Jo has also had the opportunity to work with a host of leading hockey talent.
“Working at Surbiton gave me the chance to work with a lot of the GB players, but I try not to ask too much of them because I know they have a lot on their plate. I choose my time when I ask for help,” she said.
“For example, we just did a fundraising initiative and I had 18 GB players give an hour of their time for a silent auction. Alex Malzer, who I met through my daughter, helps us a lot and runs the Marlow Falcon Flyerz. We are very fortunate in this way.
“Not only do we have the GB players behind us, but we also have an army of volunteers who are always there and wanting to help.”
Jo says the Falcon Flyerz, like many other sporting clubs, came up against a host of challenges during the Covid pandemic.
While most sport came to a complete half, Jo did not stop providing opportunities to members of her hockey club and local SEN schools.
“Covid was really hard, but since many of the SEN schools were still carrying on, we delivered information packs and videos on training programmes to the schools. We also provided sticks, balls and advice about how to coach.
“We were very lucky to have the support of so many GB players, and many of them came up with challenges that you could do at home with a stick and a soft ball. I had around 25 videos from the players and I put them all up on Twitter as well as sending them to the schools,” she said.
Looking to the future, Jo wants to expand on what the Falcon Flyerz have already been able to do, such as providing more opportunities for children and adults with disabilities.
“I want to reach out to more SEN schools and offer taster sessions,” she said. “Sometimes if you just send an email it doesn’t get to the right person.
“Once an SEN school starts with us, they never stop because they love it. Now, we just want to reach more schools, families and kids across more locations.
“We want to make disability the norm, that is our ethos, and we will push forward to make that a reality.”
There are over 50 Flyerz programmes running across the country including the Falcon Flyerz sessions across Surrey and Buckinghamshire. You can find your local Flyerz club at here.
