After working to evaluate the health benefits of exercise as a preventative to illness, sports coach Adam Rhodes recognised a need to support community organisations and interest groups with proactive sports and activity sessions.

With the aim of developing sport in a fun environment to a wide range of people of all ages and abilities in the community, Sportsability was created to work with education, disability support groups and community groups in Hull and the East Riding.

With a team of 10 specially trained coaches, Sportsability has developed partnerships with FiND Charity,  Age UK East Riding, Isaac Robinson Care Home (HICA) and a number of local primary schools, both main stream and Special Educational Needs; to provide structured activity and increase engagement in sports from all parts of the community.  Sportsability works in the community and visits groups at their own premises or arranges a suitable hired space, so access to their support is easy.

Special skills are required to coach a variety of client groups, and the team at Sportsability have a programme of continuous development in place which includes attending and obtaining qualifications/awards in; Autism Awareness, Active in  Age, Coaching Disabled Individuals and Managing Challenging Behaviour to name a few.

Sportsability also engages with local colleges and universities to encourage volunteer support and provides opportunities for experience working with people in a wide range of circumstances.

Providing a very flexible service on either ad hoc or contract basis, Sportsability is becoming recognised as the number one provider in the region for health-related sport and activity programmes. Chair Aerobics is just one example of increasing activity for older people in care, who benefit from the movement, but also the fun and enjoyment of the activity itself.

Having achieved rapid success and an increasing awareness by word of mouth, Sportsability were keen to develop their business and expand their resources.  This involved investing in the development of their team and also extending their equipment to offer a broader range of activities. 

Funding without an asset base is difficult, and the business was unable to secure financial support to achieve their objectives from traditional sources.

Key Fund was approached to establish if the business met the required criteria. Adam Rhodes explains “We are a young business. We’re growing really well but needed help to move the business forward with extra funding and so we made an application to Key Fund for more financial resources to see if they could help us. We were really delighted to be approved for support”.   A £9,000 finance package has helped with working capital, specialist coach training and the acquisition of equipment for golf, cricket and indoor activities, e.g. indoor bowls and Boccia. They have also been able to invest in a new website and branded uniforms to help increase awareness and improve the professional presentation of the business.

Adam continues, “working with Key Fund was much simpler than I’d expected.  Their procedures and administration is easy to follow and they quickly processed our application to provide funds in a matter of weeks.  I’d recommend them to any organisation needing funds to help them grow and increase their impact in the community”.

Key Fund is keen to support similar social ventures. To find out if this fund could help to get your business off the ground, please contact us.