Teaming up for fun with Optua in Lowestoft!

Disability charity Optua is running a ten-week programme of social and leisure activities and events for young disabled people in the Lowestoft area this summer.

‘Teaming Up’ is a new programme run by Optua and funded by the county council’s Activities Unlimited service. Teaming Up kicks off in Lowestoft on Tuesday 27 July with a night of bowling at Lowestoft Family Bowl. The sessions then run every Tuesday evening until 28 September and will include activities such as meals out, the cinema, snooker and an evening at the pier. There will also be a chance for people taking part to decide what they want to do.

Teaming Up It aims to give young people with disabilities or additional needs the opportunity to gain more independence, confidence, self esteem and vital social skills, whilst taking part in everyday fun leisure activities. The activities are open to anyone aged 18-25 with a disability or additional needs.

There is also a series of daytime holiday events for younger disabled people (14-18 year olds) running during the day in the Lowestoft area as follows:

– Tuesday 27 July – Bowling and food at Lowestoft Family Bowl

– Tuesday 3 August – Archery at Denes High School Community Sports Centre

– Tuesday 10 August – Tour of Africa Alive

– Tuesday 17 August – Multi sports day at Denes High School Community Sports Centre.

Karl Daniels, Optua’s Teaming Up Co-ordinator, said: “I want Teaming Up to be a great success in Lowestoft so people can get out more, make some new friends and become more confident about accessing leisure facilities in their community. The project enables us to expand our leisure services to younger disabled people across the county and we hope to engage with lots of new people and encourage them to get out and about. Hopefully give lots of parents and carers will also get a much needed respite break while the young people they look after are out having fun with us!”

Kevin Filby, Project Manager for Activities Unlimited, said: “The idea behind Teaming Up in Suffolk came from the young people themselves. They told Activities Unlimited that they wanted to be able to go out with their friends in the community, but needed some support to make it happen. We asked Optua if they could help, and Teaming Up is the result! We hope that as many young people as possible will take up these exciting new opportunities.”

For more information about Teaming Up activities in Lowestoft please contact Optua Leisure on 01473 836770 or email [email protected].

There’s more information and pictures about Optua and its activities at www.optua.org.uk or on our facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Optua/57146298569

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