About Us

Special Olympics Eastbourne was formed in September 2002.  Geoff Martindale, a local athletic coach who had been on a training course to train people with a learning disabiility, had the opportunity to work with students from a local College.  He was so impressed with their enthusiasm he wanted to provide a training session in Eastbourne for them.  After a meeting with a Special Olympics representative from Hastings, SO Eastbourne was formed.

The Eastbourne organisation is a branch of Special Olympics GB and has adopted the charity number and constitution.  It is recognised as a full member of the organisation.  Each athlete has their own membership number and when they compete their results are recorded.  This ensures that each time they participate they are matched against other young people of similar ability.

This group is now in its 5th year. All local groups are self-funding.Special Olympics is for people with a learning disability aged 8 and above.  In Eastbourne our main sport is athletics. There is also a session of football training once a week.

The group meets every Thursday (usually 50 weeks a year) to train in track and field events.  These include 50m, 100m, 200m, relay, long jump, standing long jump, soft ball throw, shot put and javelin.

Throughout the year the athletes enter competitions around the region.  Each person’s times/distances are recorded and they compete with other athletes with a similar ability – this means that everyone has the opportunity to succeed.  They do not have to be elitist athletes!  We believe that to enter into competition is “their stage” and an opportunity to put into practice what they have learnt in training.

Over the past 5 years we have seen individuals grow in confidence and ability.  Their improvement is often achieved over a long time with much patience from our tireless trainers.  It has helped them to “walk tall” and be proud.  They are also very good at supporting each other and there is never any “I’m better than you”.  It is a brilliant friendship group, which is still growing, for a bunch of young people who sometimes in society get pushed to one side.

Fund-raising goes on in a quiet way through member’s families, but we need funds to support the transport and entrance costs to athletic events (indoors and outdoors).  We make a small charge for the coach, but apart from that the days to competitions are supported by Special Olympics Eastbourne.  The typical cost to the group for a competition is £250 - £300.

In 2005 Eastbourne went as part of the South East Region to take part in the National Games in Glasgow.  It was agreed that everyone should have the opportunity to take part – and a mammoth fund-raising plan was put into action to raise all the money to pay for athletes, trainers and carers who stayed with the athletes on the University campus.  The total cost of this was £8,000.  Thanks to the generosity of local people and publicity from the Gazette and Herald this money was raised and every athlete who wanted to take part did.  A number of parents paid to stay in the area and went to watch the competition which was spread over 6 days.  It was a fantastic time for everyone and we look forward to participating again at the next National Games in Leicester in 2009.  Again, it is planned that we will raise the money so that all those who wish to participate have the opportunity.

At Special Olympics Eastbourne we welcome anyone to come along to our training sessions on a Thursday at Eastbourne Sports Park between 4.45 and 5.45 to see the athletes in training and chat with them and their families about what Special Olympics has meant to them.

If you'd like to help out with funding please contact Maureen Bennett, Secretary 01323 721014 or email: maureen.bennett@specialolympicseastbourne.org.uk