Special Olympics Cricket

Special Olympics Cricket starts up at Moulsecoomb Community Leisure Centre on Wednesday 30 September, with sessions running every Wednesday afternoon through October. It's a cricket club for adults with learning disabilities and/or autism, and the whole thing is run by Grace Eyre in close coordination with Special Olympics Sussex, the local branch of Special Olympics Great Britain.

On the pitch, a coach from Sussex Cricket takes the lead, teaching the basics of the game in a relaxed environment. You'll pick up the skills and then put them to use in small, friendly games, so you don't need any prior experience to get involved. It's as much about the social side as the sport, and the focus is on having a go rather than playing at a high level right away.

That said, it's more than just a one-off. The sessions on 30 September, 7 October, 14 October and 21 October are part of a wider set of community sports programmes across the county, designed to create a pathway from those starting out to those who want to go on and compete at local, regional or national level. Special Olympics Great Britain is a non-profit and the largest provider of year-round sports training and athletic competition in summer and winter sports for children and adults with a learning disability.

One practical thing to keep in mind: anyone who needs one-to-one support must be accompanied by a parent or carer, as no personal care is provided during the session. The sessions run on Wednesdays at 13:30 at Moulsecoomb Community Leisure Centre, Moulsecoomb Way, Brighton, BN2 4PB, and cost £5.00.