A club committed to including everyone - South West Club of the Year, Storm Plymouth
Storm Plymouth goes above and beyond in the local community to provide inclusive running, walking and social opportunities. Their inclusive ethos saw them recognised as Club of the Year at the recent South West Regional Volunteer Awards. We caught up with a few club members to find out what makes the club so special.
Providing running opportunities for everyone
Having achieved 7/7 Club Standards gives Storm Plymouth strong foundations to create welcoming and inclusive running opportunities. They recently put the right measures in place, including trained guide runners and safety assessments, to support a visually impaired runner in the local area.
The club understands the impact a warm welcome can have on their member’s overall experience. New runners always have the opportunity to meet others before the run starts and then a buddy will run with them to check they are comfortable. Club member, Jimmy Farr, has seen the impact that being welcomed into the community had on his daughter.
“We also have some autistic runners in the club, my daughter being one. We got her involved in the club and she hasn't looked back. She's made a lot of friends. It's brought her out of her shell.”
Changing lives through the power of running
Many members described how joining the club helped them to grow in confidence and achieve things they never thought possible.
Alongside running his first marathon Vice Chair, Keith Couling, described how joining the club has helped him to feel fit and well. Here are his top three things about Storm Plymouth:
“Number one is the friends I’ve made, they’re friends for life. Number two would be that it changes your life because you come to a running club where you’re welcomed by all. And number three would probably be the support.”
Through the impact on its members, it is clear to see that Storm Plymouth is more than just a running club. Club Captain, Julie Spencer summed up their ethos and impact:
“It really feels like you’re part of a family and it’s really inclusive. As a club they really bring the best out of people.”
Giving back to the local community
Alongside their weekly running schedule, the club also give back to the local community in a variety of ways. They organise litter picking, make collections for food banks and charities and give their time volunteering at parkrun and soup runs. They have built a strong bond with the Mayflower Specials, a group of adults with intellectual disabilities who love to play sport, which has been a really positive experience for everyone involved.