IN the SAME BOAT: MIXED ABILITY ROWING in PRACTICE Dr

ALL IN THE SAME BOAT: MIXED ABILITY ROWING IN PRACTICE Dr. Jen Dyer

Mixed Ability (MA) sport is challenging charts the first year of MA rowing at BARC. grassroots clubs to think differently about The club’s experience provides invaluable inclusion. Bradford Amateur Rowing Club learning on aspects of MA rowing and MA sport (BARC) was the first to embrace MA rowing as as a whole including opportunities, challenges, part of the Mixed Ability Sports Development timelines, personal stories, impacts and key Programme (MASDP) led by IMAS and funded learnings for the future. by Sport England. This research summary

Key findings

• MA rowing does not require significant • Continued training across a club is critical to infrastructural changes to the club and its ensure members understand what MA is, and facilities. This was one of the main reasons to reduce the challenges for those involved. BARC opted to implement it, and might BARC members have so far only received make it more attractive to other clubs too. the initial IMAS training. Developing a network of experienced MA • At the outset, club members raised • participants could provide valuable, ongoing concerns about the introduction of MA, support, guidance and reinforcement of good particularly around risk and ease of practice. Those involved with MA rowing at communication. Discussing these issues BARC would have liked more information early on, in collaboration with MA trainers, and support up front. will help alleviate these worries. • The culture of a club is likely to be key in • The potential for a fully authentic MA offering whether an MA offering will be successful. at BARC was affected by a range of factors BARC is viewed as a very welcoming club including: timing of sessions, opportunities with an emphasis on participation. for social interaction, membership models, • MA rowing at BARC has had significant recruitment and available resources. Clubs positive impacts at the individual, club and need guidance to be able to consider all broader societal level. MA has the potential these aspects carefully. to transform grassroots sports.

December 2018 www.mixedabilitysports.org All in the same boat! A case study of MA rowing All in the same boat! A case study of MA rowing

About BARC Introducing MA rowing BARC is a British Rowing affiliated club with A focus group held before MA started revealed ‘People with disabilities wanted around 150 members. It is situated on the a mix of concerns and eagerness to proceed River Aire in Baildon. BARC celebrated its amongst BARC committee members. to take part in the club properly. 150th anniversary in 2017. Those who attended the IMAS presentation They wanted to take part in the BARC embraced MA rowing as part of the Mixed at BARC in December 2016 had an excellent social life of the club.’ Ability Sports Development Programme (MASDP) understanding of the MA concept. Those who led by International Mixed Ability Sports (IMAS) hadn’t attended were less clear as to how MA and funded by Sport England. The club is known differed from disability rowing. for being friendly and welcoming, but wanted to become more inclusive and better represent the ‘The Model that was described to us ... made community. When Celia Hickson became President clear that people with disabilities wanted to in September 2014 she made inclusivity a key take part in the club properly. They wanted to development area for the club. MA rowing was take part in the social life of the club ... rather seen as a great way to achieve this aim because than being in their own kind of ghetto or their IMAS advised that they could work with the existing own enclave. So the whole point was club facilities rather than make significant financial participation in the wider club.’ investments to include ‘disability rowing’ facilities. Keith Myers, BARC Committee member, BARC chose to secure additional funding in order attended IMAS presentation, to purchase touring boats which are slightly more Dec 2016 stable for beginner rowers. The club’s charitable status enabled its members to apply for a variety of grants to support MA, raising over £10,000 in additional funds. ‘Rowing is a brilliant sport. Early concerns Early motivations It’s cardiovascular, non-weight- Resourcing MA rowing: To give back: bearing, it’s outdoors, with Volunteer resources are already stretched at There was a strong desire to give back to the BARC and MA will reduce capacity further. club and to the sport of rowing through MA. people, very social, and it’s a Types of disability: Coaching satisfaction: team-based sport, so it should Most people felt comfortable and familiar with Coaching new people, helping them meet their goals be available to everyone.’ physical disability but less confident about supporting and improve was a key motivation for developing MA. people with learning disabilities, largely due to fears Celia Hickson, Inclusive ethos: President of BARC over communication. This was particularly in relation to risk, concerning the ability of MA rowers to respond BARC promotes an inclusive ethos and MA was quickly in an emergency, which is critical given the seen as contributing to this. dynamic context of a river system. Club benefits: ‘I think, I’ll lay my cards on the table and say MA rowing was seen as a way to increase and What is Mixed Ability? I think I’d find it very difficult to coach someone diversify membership, as well as shaping BARC’s reputation for innovation. Many people face significant barriers to and learning through interactive and accessible with learning difficulties. Physical difficulties I can participating in mainstream sport through, training and resources. This creates sporting cope with, but learning difficulties is a bit tricky.’ for example, disability, age, gender, background environments that are safe, welcoming and Chris Morley, or poor self-perception. MA sport takes an non-judgemental. MA emphasises the importance BARC Committee member, innovative approach to breaking down these of regular, frequent and sustainable activities, MA coach and volunteer coordinator barriers. MA participants from a wide range of self-determination, club membership and backgrounds and abilities share experiences opportunities for social interaction for all.

2 3 All in the same boat! A case study of MA rowing All in the same boat! A case study of MA rowing

MA rowing timeline June 2017 October 2017 - March 2018 Research focus group with committee prior Training continued to start of MA rowing MA beginner numbers September 2016 dropped from four to two MA rowing sessions Sport England December March 2017 started Tuesday 22 May 2018 funding confirmed June with four beginners Sunday morning 2016 BARC received and around 25 members of February 2016 sessions started with £3,000 from the BARC on the volunteer rota IMAS presentation one existing MA rower IMAS-led stakeholder Rowing Foundation at BARC to attending and two new consultation in introduce the MA members from the club Bradford about Sport Model to the Club August 2017 joining the MA session England bid to trial (five members of MA sport beyond Committee present Land training continued as rugby fewer volunteers available Research interviews and British Rowing with BARC members Disability Officer) over the summer

October - March - September 2017 June 2018 November 2016 September 2016 BARC’s Autumn Regatta BARC’s Annual Sprint BARC, supported by Regatta with the first MA rowing idea was the first club event to British Rowing Disability MA crew race ‘The introduced and be attended by one of the Officer, submitted February 2017 May 2017 MA rowers as a spectator 4-Michaels’ discussed (led by three funding bids to BARC received BARC received and helper with logistics the BARC President) supplement Mixed Ability £5,000 from the £2,819 from the Research interviews at BARC committee Sport Development First training ‘on the water’ Gannett Foundation Peter Harrison Trust with BARC members meetings Programme (MASDP) funding for equipment Ordered new touring boats for MA rowing which are Methodology slightly more stable MA participants This research summary presents key themes and learning emerging recruited through from BARC’s MA rowing journey. Data were gathered through: existing IMAS • a focus group with seven members of the BARC Committee activities, open days July 2017 in May 2017; and presentations. Land training for MA April 2018 • interviews with ten members of the club, including those involved crew using rowing Volunteers recruited BARC ‘War of the and not involved in MA rowing, in May - July 2018; machines and cycling through BARC. Roses’ event attended • participant observation at BARC between May 2017 and July 2018. New touring boats by one of the MA arrived at BARC rowers

4 5 All in the same boat! A case study of MA rowing All in the same boat! A case study of MA rowing

Challenges and opportunities of MA rowing Key learnings Over the first year of developing MA rowing, there were some clear areas which worked MA training across a club is crucial to ensure • Informal club events are an excellent way to well and others which were more challenging. • understanding of MA and to reduce challenges encourage the integration of MA rowers and for those involved. raise awareness of MA more broadly. Peer education and training The club environment • Preliminary training at the introduction stage • Alternative financial models, such as sessional payments, could increase accessibility of club BARC had only had the initial presentation from IMAS The culture of BARC, as a welcoming club that could focus on the issues likely to arise, followed membership for MA participants. rather than the full MA peer training and accreditation. caters for all ages and supports social as well as by additional sessions when specific challenges This had resulted in a lack of guidance and competition rowing, made it easier to introduce have been identified by supporters of the • Clubs need to work with IMAS to develop understanding around MA, which is explored further MA to the club. initiative. This way both the trainers and trainees networks to recruit disabled and non-disabled on page 11 (see ‘Language and perceptions’ and will get the most out of the exercise. MA participants. ‘Volunteers or partcipants’). Coaches and volunteers ‘Socially BARC is very mixed club - more than • A knowledge-sharing network and/or peer- • MA training needs to address issues around also reported frustration at being unable to support some of the other clubs. And the focus has always mentoring scheme across sports would be retention of MA participants such as the role MA participants to improve because they lacked skills been on participation rather than competition. You useful for those involved in MA. of carers. and/or experience. should feel like you want to come down and row, and not feel you’re not part of the main club if you • The culture of the club is likely to be critical • Discussions around the resource implications ‘The support we’ve had as volunteers from the don’t want to compete - whereas you might with in whether an MA offering will be appropriate. of an MA offering are crucial. broader club has been minimal and I feel I’ve some of the other clubs that are more competitive.’ • Decisions about when MA sessions run been very much left to develop my own strategies MA rowing volunteer are critical in achieving social integration … I’ve reached my limit of what I know now and and equal participation. [Michael’s] rowing development has plateaued … It would be really useful to have an experienced Social interaction Mixed Ability coach that I could talk to, even once Initially MA sessions were run on Tuesday mornings. a month, who could advise me on techniques.’ This was helpful at the start because it was a very MA rowing volunteer quiet time on the river so safer for beginners, with fewer distractions. But it didn’t encourage social Sustainability integration. It also made those involved feel more like volunteers than participants (see ‘Volunteers Regular and frequent sessions are key to realising or participants?’ on page 11). In recognition of this, the benefits of MA sport. Weekly sessions for MA Sunday morning sessions began in May 2018 and rowing have been going for one year and have now are proving effective in addressing these issues. expanded to two sessions per week. MA participants pay £5 on a sessional basis rather than a one-off ‘The Sunday morning sessions are starting to membership, which is a more financially accessible feel like it’s just another outing in a boat and it model and still sustainable for the club. just happens to be with one of the MA participants.’ MA rowing volunteer MA participant numbers at BARC is low and retention has proved difficult with only one of the original MA BARC is involved with many formal and informal group continuing to participate in the Sunday morning rowing events. These were very effective for sessions. BARC is reliant on IMAS networks to recruit encouraging social integration into the club for disabled participants and at least one MA rower MA participants, raising awareness of MA rowing stopped attending after their carer changed and at the club and beyond, advocating for MA rowing wasn’t supportive of the activity. and MA sport more generally. MA beginners rowing is volunteer-intensive and some suggested it was diverting volunteer resources from other areas of the club such as the Junior rowers.

6 7 All in the same boat! A case study of MA rowing All in the same boat! A case study of MA rowing

Participants’ stories

Michael Kernan Freya Stansfield Michael Randle Chris Morley Michael K got involved with MA rowing at BARC Freya’s company encourages employees to volunteer Michael R joined BARC at the age of 72 through Chris has been involved with the MA rowing since after trying it out at an MA taster day in Bradford. for two hours a month so she uses her time for the the Learn to Row scheme. He had seen the BARC it started and coordinates the volunteers. He says He has also played MA rugby for over three years Tuesday morning MA session. She coaches the rowers when walking his dog and wanted to try it. it can be difficult to get enough people for each session. for the Bumble Bees. MA participants and says that it’s no different to He has always been active and rowing keeps him Chris describes MA rowing as being ‘satisfyingly well any other group she has been involved with. fit but he also enjoys the social side of the club and outside my comfort zone’ and is keenly aware of Michael has been coming to the Tuesday sessions regularly cycles and walks with other club members. being responsible for the MA rowers. He has worked which were originally marked out for MA rowing only, ‘To be honest, it’s just like coaching anybody else most closely with Michael Kernan whose technique, but is now a regular on Sunday mornings too where who’s learning to row. You have to make everything Michael was approached by Chris about volunteering he says, has improved. He also feels that he has MA squads row alongside others. He can often be simple; they make the same mistakes as everybody with the MA squad. He was also involved in the seen Michael mature since he has been part of found in the clubhouse helping himself to hot drinks else. I think what I’ve learnt is to try and simplify infamous ‘4-Michaels’ race and feels that MA would BARC, which he puts down to him not being and generally enjoying everyone’s company. things even further but other than that I don’t really sit very nicely in rowing clubs and events where the afforded special treatment. find that much difference really. I haven’t worked emphasis is on enjoyment as well as competition. Michael feels he has improved since he started with anyone of Mixed Ability before so it’s been a and really enjoys the sessions. Those who are Michael said he really appreciates MA sports as learning experience but I haven’t found it particularly coaching him say he has the perfect build for a different model of inclusion for society which has challenging - it just works a bit differently. Things rowing, excellent core strength and balance and extra relevance to him: happen at a slower pace and you have to be a bit his technique has improved enormously. He now more patient.’ needs to work on his concentration and not getting ‘One of my grand-daughters distracted by other things around him, especially has extra needs and so, over as he recently progressed to a single. ‘It’s just like coaching anybody the past few years, I’ve had direct Michael has attended all BARC regattas since else who’s learning to row.’ he started and was one quarter of the famous experience of being with her and ‘4-Michaels’ race, where he and his partner encouraging her. It’s great to Michael narrowly beat another pair of Michaels! see something where people are actually involved in a community activity and not separated off all the time.’

8 9 All in the same boat! A case study of MA rowing All in the same boat! A case study of MA rowing

The impacts of MA rowing Beyond rowing: broader lessons for MA BARC’s experience has raised some important debates around perceptions of disability and Impacts on the individual Club-level impacts highlighted the challenges as well as the potential opportunities in fully integrating disabled • Improved coaching skills • Promoting a culture of accessibility, vulnerability participants into a mainstream sports club. and openness. For example, the more flexible, • A sense of ‘giving back’ to the club and sport ‘sessional’ payment model for MA has allowed • A chance to explore a new sport for MA beginners others to start conversations about struggles Volunteers or participants? Language and perceptions • An improved awareness of social difference with affording annual membership The MA model seeks to challenge societal Lack of guidance and understanding around for non-disabled participants in particular Improving and diversifying communication • perceptions of disabled people as requiring MA is evident in the language used by some strategies, for example, around social events • An ability to communicate with a broader ‘charity’ by emphasising that everyone is a of those involved, which included the dichotomy range of people • Informing other rowing initiatives such as the Learn participant in sport, rather than labelling people of ‘normal’ (us) and ‘them’ (MA participants). either ‘MA participants’ or ‘volunteers’. The MA This is not in keeping with the MA ethos of ‘all ‘Mostly people put back through coaching or to Row programme where there is now ‘less talking vision is that they are all participants. However, of us together’, but perhaps reflects the complex umpiring, or you help run the club. This is a totally and more doing’ as well as a reduction in ‘jargon’ this is complicated by the fact that, in rowing, interplay of broader societal perceptions of different strand. It is actually quite challenging • Offering an additional, welcoming space for rowing a certain skill level needs to be reached before disability as ‘other’. And this may be amplified because it challenges your own perceptions for those who are struggling to join in with other any new rower can go on the water and join in a sporting context where the more common of what a person is or is not capable of.’ club activities temporarily, for example, because a rowing crew. This means volunteers are scenario is for disabled people to take part in of mental health reasons or other commitments BARC veteran who has recently returned to needed in order to help beginner rowers reach segregated sports. Highlighting the differences rowing following retirement ‘The key learning from MA has all been around this stage and many of the existing BARC between segregated disability sport and MA ‘It has reminded me how hard you have to work communication. How we communicate about the members who are involved in MA rowing label sport is a regular challenge when trying to as a coach to communicate clearly. It’s taught learning process, how we communicate whilst themselves as volunteers. While this may be explain and promote MA sport and is further me that at the lower skills levels, I must not over on the water, how we communicate about what’s relevant with beginner MA rowers, it is important complicated by the high profile of elite complicate it.’ going on in the club. The actual rowing is the that a transition is made to everyone being disability sport. One interviewee said: easiest part!’ equal participants in their own right. The Sunday Mark Edwards, morning sessions where MA and non-MA ‘To some extent there was a cultural former BARC Safety Advisor Celia Hickson, rowers are on the water, are important in aiding barrier of actually understanding that and MA rowing coach President of BARC this transition. [MA participants] are not ‘para-rowers’. Para-rowing has become well known within As part of MA training, this transition needs the rowing community because there are considering across different sports. For some formidable athletes out there who Societal impact example, MA tennis is similar to MA rowing are physically disabled.’ in requiring a certain skill level before a game • Challenging perceptions of (dis)ability and makes a huge difference. As I’ve got to know BARC veteran who has recently returned can be played with more experienced players. assumptions that MA beginners would be them, I can see they spend every day being very to rowing following retirement However, in MA rugby and MA boxing, complete less able than other rowing beginners active - probably much more so than an adult beginners can join in a training session with • Raising awareness of social difference and with a desk job.’ more experienced participants. encouraging reflection on barriers others MA rowing volunteer may face in society ‘I did feel [a bit uncomfortable] but once I started • Reducing fears of communication with becoming personally involved and being in a boat those perceived as different to oneself with [the MA participants], all that went away … Welcoming or inclusive? ‘I’ll be honest and say I was expecting [the MA And I just thought “It’s done me some good really, BARC members emphasised how inclusive the long history of male domination in the sport. beginners] to be slower to get to this level. One being part of this training session” … For me it the club already was. However, although BARC This could be a barrier to many approaching thing I wasn’t sure about was how good their has made it easier to be around people when I was clearly welcoming and wouldn’t turn any BARC. Clubs need to be aware of the difference coordination and balance would be. And with don’t understand what they’re saying.’ potential member away that approached them, between being welcoming, which is a very positive both of them their balance is superb which MA rowing volunteer it was still seen as exclusive because many would aspect of club culture for nurturing MA, and not approach the Club in the first instance. The being inclusive, which may involve thinking more President, in particular, highlighted the ‘elite critically about existing barriers the members and highly competitive image of rowing’ and may not even be aware of.

10 11 Reflections on the first year of MA rowing at BARC

As the first club to offer MA rowing, BARC’s experience to date has provided invaluable insights into MA rowing and MA sport more broadly. It has raised important debates around perceptions of disability, and highlighted the challenges as well as the potential opportunities for the individual - disabled or otherwise - the club, and the wider community, of fully integrating disabled participants into a mainstream sports club.

‘What we have learned from this club’s experience will be instrumental in providing a template for other clubs to try Mixed Ability sports. It’s given us a fantastic insight into the barriers and enablers that help make Mixed Ability a standard part of a club’s offer and shown how, without question, every member of a club benefits.’ Martino Corazza, Director of IMAS.

About IMAS Get in touch IMAS believes that everyone should be able If you want to introduce MA rowing at your to benefit from the transformational power of club, or find out more about more about sport to create healthy and happy communities. Mixed Ability sport please get in touch: To make this vision possible, IMAS provides interactive and accessible training delivered [email protected] by participants from a range of backgrounds to create sporting environments that are safe, +44 745 617 1908 welcoming and non-judgemental. This has been shown to overcome a huge range of barriers for people who may otherwise struggle to participate, as well as benefiting clubs and the wider community.

Sign the manifesto IMAS’ values are upheld in its Manifesto. To find out more about Mixed Ability sports, and sign the Manifesto, visit the website:

www.mixedabilitysports.org

This research summary was sponsored by the Leeds Social Sciences Impact Acceleration Account in association with the ESRC. © University of Leeds, December 2018.