On Wednesday 21st September, IMAS Trainers Bronte and Cam attended an online meeting with the House of Lords, to discuss how sport can be made more inclusive and accessible for young people. This blog is a selection of excerpts from the meeting transcript. We’d...
The benefits of Mixed Ability sports go far beyond increased physical fitness, and even beyond improved mental health. Mixed Ability sports are just a snapshot of the type of society we would like to live in, and when the values of Mixed Ability are taken with us...
Ever since Anthony Brooke founded the Bumbles RUFC in 2009, asserting his right to play full contact rugby, Mixed Ability has grown across the globe and across a wide range of sports. From rugby to rowing, bowls to basketball, grassroots sports clubs are...
We’ve all been delighted to see group sports gradually returning to our lives over the last few weeks, and a Mixed Ability family day at Harlow RUFC last weekend was the perfect way to celebrate. As part of the RFU Families Fund project, IMAS delivered and evening...
The recent Marmot report 10 years on, highlighted how health inequalities related to disabilities arestill stark. This has been even more apparent during the Covid pandemic, which it is now clear has disproportionately affected disabled people and exacerbated...
Exciting times recently for Llanelli Warriors Mixed Ability rugby team who were featured on BBC Scrum V on BBC2 at the end of December to celebrate their incredible 25th season. If you missed it, you can watch it again here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gkhxhMffSe4...
IMAS is delighted to announce a new partnership with The Brain Foundation for the promotion of Mixed Ability activities in Malta, starting with rugby. The Brain Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation set up in 2015 and registered with the Voluntary...
Based in Swindon, Sam at Inclusfit runs fully inclusive fitness classes for a wide range of participants. Sam is an experienced, award-winning fitness instructor, personal trainer and a UK Disability Fitness Expert. We caught up with her to find out more about her...
This year, IMAS have offered placements to medical students from the University of Sheffield. Max Landsborough reports on what he has learned, and how the placement might influence he practises medicine in the future... On my placement with International Mixed...
In the beginning…In spring of 2017 following some earlier Mixed Ability training delivered to around ten of the Premiership community rugby teams, IMAS were contacted by former Gloucester Rugby and Samoan international player Terry Fanolua.Terry had identified a...
Mixed Ability sports participants argue that the involvement of experts by experience in learning, producing teaching resources and delivering their training adds an extra 'rung' to the commonly used model, the 'ladder of co-production. This 20 minute live webinar...
Written collaboratively by the IMAS facilitators Here We Go Again... The 2019 LeDeR Annual Report was published 16th July 2020. “Our updated data suggest that the disparity between age at death for people with learning disabilities (aged 4 years and over) and the...
Are you passionate about inclusion? Do you believe in the power of sport and education? Do you want to make a difference in your community? We are looking for a Business Development Manager and a Regional Development Manager! This is an exciting opportunity for you...
IMAS is thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership with Abilities Centre, based in Whitby, Ontario, Canada. Abilities Centre is an internationally renowned, innovative community hub where people of all ages and abilities can enrich their lives by engaging in...
Rugby World, the world's best selling rugby magazine, has dedicated its June issue to inclusion and diversity, celebrating rugby for all! We are delighted to see that 6 central pages cover the growth of Mixed Ability rugby worldwide, alongside the pivotal role IMAS...
Mixed Ability was conceived to promote social inclusion and a meaningful interaction between individuals and groups who wouldn’t necessarily share paths in their local communities. At least not in ‘normal’ circumstances. Many of our participants have experienced –...
It is with great sadness that the IMAS and IMART 2020 Project Team have to announce that due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures affecting travel, borders and large gatherings across the world the International Mixed Ability Rugby Tournament is...
International Mixed Ability Sports is excited to announce that the European Commission, through the Erasmus+ Not-for-profit European Sport Events, has agreed to support a week of Mixed Ability activities to coincide with the 3rd International Mixed Ability Rugby...
International Mixed Ability Sports are delighted to announce that they have teamed up with registered charity Sports Chaplaincy UK (SCUK). The partnership will see Mixed Ability clubs and their players have the opportunity to access additional support outside of...
International Mixed Ability Sports (IMAS) have been leading the national roll out of Mixed Ability Rugby since 2014, employing players with learning disabilities and autism to introduce and educate grassroots clubs on the benefits of the game. The Comic Relief ‘Try...
