What is KEEN London?

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.