A Dundee karate club’s ground-breaking work to include children with additional needs has been recognised with a national award.
Sport Karate East only introduced their sensory and additional support programme less than a year ago.
But the industry has already recognised the new six-week course at the Martial Arts Business awards.
Richard Mallinson, youth development director, said that the award meant a lot for the whole team.
“It was a surprise and shock,” he said.
“It was quite emotional to be honest. To be recognised by your industry and some influential people within it, who are saying that what you’ve done is really something special was lovely.”
The programme was developed after Richard spoke to some parents at the karate club.
“We had a number of kids on the spectrum,” Richard explained.
“Some of those kids in our bigger classes can cope fine.
“But some came to us and we felt the bigger classes wouldn’t be suitable for them.
“So we talked to their parents and what we found is lots of organisations would get funding and these kids would be involved in an activity for a time.
“But once that funding dried up, these kids were decimated.
“Because these kids had built friendships, doing things regularly and built a community for themselves, and it was just gone.
“So we looked at it from a resource, capacity and economic point of view, so that if we were going to commit, it would be long term, sustainable.”
Dundee karate club is creating inclusivity
The six-week course allows kids to be introduced to karate in a sensory reduced environment. The classes don’t have any shouting or loud noises and progress at the rate of those taking part.
“All credit should go to Kyle, the leader of the programme,” Richard added.
“He does an outstanding job with it.
“Kyle has been a primary school teacher for more than 10 years and developed this programme.”
At the end of the six-week course, Richard speaks to parents and they decide the best way forward to keep them in the classes.
Richard added that he hopes to expand the programme in the future to offer more services.
“In the lounge, when mum or dad are here – sometimes it’s the only break they’ve had this week,” he explained.
“So we hope we can bring in service providers who will be there at the same time who can give them that extra bit of support, if they need it.”
He added that it also allows the parents to meet and support each other.
Richard said that he is most proud that other clubs across the UK have reached out to them about the programme.
He said: “We’re still learning ourselves, but we’re pretty proud that we can give others this introductory programme to create long term pathways into our sport.”