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Our
Mission ...
KEEN
London provides sporting and recreational activities for disabled
children and young adults in Greater London. These activities promote physical and social development, teamwork
and self-confidence in an encouraging, friendly, supportive and fun environment.
In addition to group instruction, volunteers provide individual support,
helping each person to fulfil his or her own potential. KEEN London's
activities often give opportunities that are lacking elsewhere. Activities are provided completely free of charge to both
participants and helpers to ensure that no-one is excluded. Training and
education are provided for the volunteers assisting in the course
of these activities.
KEEN
London is ...
- SPORTS AND RECREATION
For children with special needs in the London area. We work with a wide
range of physical and mental disabilities, from mild to profound impairments..
- FUN
For everyone. Socially, physically and mentally, the emphasis at KEEN
is on fun. Our sessions are always full of smiling faces. For many of
the athletes, and coaches, KEEN is the highlight of their week.
- FREE
For all children and volunteers. This means that KEEN is open to anyone
who would benefit from it.
Learn
KEENspeak
- ATHLETES - the
children who come to KEEN
- COACHES - the volunteers
who act as facilitator and friend to each athlete.
- FUN - the key word
for KEEN - everything we do involves both coaches and athletes having
a great time.
The
History of KEEN ...
Kids Enjoy Exercise
Now (K.E.E.N.) was set up in Oxford in 1988 by Elliott Portnoy, a graduate
student from the USA. "It started as a tennis coaching group for mentally
handicapped children," says Mrs Krzysia Gossage, a mother of two disabled
children who have been involved in K.E.E.N. since the start. "But Elliott
realised the potential and within a term he totally transformed it - he
registered it as a charity, got hundreds of students involved as coaches
and all sorts of different children to come."
K.E.E.N. in Oxford
now offers activities to about 200 children and young adults with special
needs (ranging in age from 5 to 30). The coaches who play the role of
sports instructor and friend, are drawn from a pool of about 800 students.
Branches have been
set up in Washington DC, USA and in York. Each is a separate charity although
they have a common goal. KEEN London was established by a group of
alumni from the Oxford branch and started offering sessions in August
2001. We have links to KEEN Oxford but are a separate charity.
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