4th Birthday for Leighton Linslade Rotary “ Yes We Can” inclusive sport program

Leighton- Linslade Rotary’s “ Yes We Can “ program has just turned four years old and continues to go from strength strength and is rapidly turning Leighton Linslade into a centre of excellence for inclusive sports.

Picking up the batten in October 2017 when the town only had the wonderful Otters Swimming
Club, Rotary have worked to develop a number of other Sports which now include thriving Football,
Hockey and Tennis sections plus the most recent addition of Sailing.

Using a unique model, the Rotary team identify outstanding delivery organisations and committed
and quality sponsors and coordinate the whole under the “ Yes We Can” umbrella creating a true
family approach to the objective of Accessible, Affordable & Sustainable Sporting opportunities for
those with a Disability.

Together with Otters the program now attracts in excess of 70 regular participants and impacts
families and carers across South West Bedfordshire and beyond. The program has seen fantastic
achievements already in its short history with the footballers winning the Berks/ Bucks Conference
Cup and growing to 30 plus registered participants , Tennis growing in the pandemic thanks to 1:1
training by the dedicated coach and Hockey also growing significantly and creating a real buzz at
Sunday training sessions. Sailing has now also joined the family and created its own memories in its
first season on the water, and of course there is always the summer multi sports days.

Richard Johnson OBE, Chairman of the Rotary Program Team said:

The unique approach Rotary has taken to delivery while making everyone feel part of the “ Yes We Can “ family is what makes this such an exciting program to be part of.The program is pleased that it has not drawn on Unitary Authority or Central Government Funds but we are proud that we have been able to bring so many quality organisations together for the benefit of people who really need our support.I must therefore record my thanks and those of Rotary to the following( and in no particular order)

MK Dons SET & FAI Auto Parts – Football.
Leighton Buzzard Hockey Club & OMM Solicitors – Hockey. Sara Bamford,
Linslade Tennis Club & Leighton Linslade Town Council – Tennis.
MK Sailability & Geomatrix Earth Science – Sailing.

Everyone looks forward to continuing this exciting journey, nothing quite unites or excites like Sport.

Simon Marshall Rotary President said:

As a Rotary Club we couldn’t be prouder of the this unique program and the impact it is having on our community. The participants who are impacted by “ Yes We Can” and indeed their families and carers now have the opportunity to take part in Sport in a way many of us take for granted. We are also proud to have been able to bring so many quality organisations together under the YWC umbrella however additional thanks must go to the people of Leighton Linslade for their continuing and unstinting support, as we look to truly create that centre of excellence that all the participants deserve.

For further information on the Rotary “ Yes We Can” program contact Sandra at
tahomasandra@icloud.com or via Yes We Can Facebook page.