Bridging Gaps in Sports Access for Children with Disabilities in Surrey
“There are so many things that can go wrong, but don’t let that stop you from taking your first step because you’ll see how much it matters to the group you’re trying to serve, that someone is actually trying to make a difference.”
Riley Lam, recipient of the Connect to Community Grant for 2023-2024.
Project Description
Riley’s project expanded the Kids Adaptive Sports Program from Vancouver to Surrey to fill the significant gap in sports opportunities for children with disabilities. In partnership with Taking Strides Vancouver, their project introduced participants to four different sports, providing one-on-one mentorship to help them build skills at their own pace.
Community Partner Description
Taking Strides Vancouver: Taking Strides is a charity based in Canada, with locations in Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver. Their mission is to promote inclusivity and provide opportunities for children with disabilities to engage in physical activities and lead an active lifestyle. Taking Strides is dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of these children and their families. Their team is committed to creating safe and supportive environments where children can thrive.
Riley shared how supportive and empowered she felt while working with her community partner:
“This is my first time running [this project], but [my community partner] gave me the space to do things my way in creating my own sports sessions. [My community partner] forced me to step out of my comfort zone to do it myself instead of following what other people would tell me to do.”
Lessons Learned
Riley expressed how leading her project helped grow her confidence and her leadership skills:
“I was really scared of failing this project because it involves people that I didn’t want to disappoint, like the parents and kids. I’ve seen them being let down and those negative experiences that they’ve had before. I didn’t want them to go through that again, so I was really scared of failing.”
“There are so many things that can go wrong, but don’t let that stop you from taking your first step because you’ll see how much it matters to the group you’re trying to serve, that someone is actually trying to make a difference. If something doesn’t go well, try to learn from that experience, but if you don’t try and take that first step, you won’t experience these things, and there won’t be progress at all.”
Project Outcomes
Riley recalled a moment where a parent expressed their gratitude for having a safe space for her child to be themselves in learning sports their own way:
“[The parents] were just really happy that their kids had some exposure to other people, sports, and skills. In one of the surveys we got, the parent mentioned that their kids were always told that they were doing things in the wrong way, just because they had a different way of interpreting the sports. This really feeds back to our whole reason to provide a safe space for kids with disabilities to learn and have fun. Because these issues are actually very real, and I’ve seen it with my own eyes.”
Advice for Future Applicants
For students considering applying for a CCEL Grant, Riley offers some valuable advice:
“If you spot any issues or problems in your community that you’re passionate about, try to research those issues. It’s really easy for us [students] to just say, ‘Oh, I’m just a student. There’s nothing I can do., ‘ but through learning about these communities and issues, it really helps you put a grant together and motivates you to continue into the project.”
“Ask yourself: Why are you doing this project before you start it? Because when challenges come up, it can weigh down on you if you don’t actually know what your motivation is.”
Information about CCEL Grants
If you are a student interested in leading your own UBC CCEL project, you can learn more about the application process here. Year-round advising for grant projects and applications is available via Zoom or in-person at our office in the UBC Vancouver office from Monday to Friday. For more information about year-round advising, please email us at community.learning@ubc.ca to book an appointment.