Mencap and Sport England are launching their pioneering sports programme, Round the World Challenge in East Cornwall this month.

The programme will support 150 people with a learning disability and tackles social isolation and exclusion by supporting those with a learning disability to get active and involved in their community. 

People with a learning disability face huge inequalities throughout all aspects of their lives. Participation in sport and physical activity is exceptionally low and people with a learning disability have a life expectancy that is 27 years lower than the general population for women, and 23 years lower for men.

As well as the health benefits of increasing physical activity, research has shown that getting people with a learning disability physically active can help boost their confidence in other areas of life, including securing employment, reducing loneliness, building friendships and playing a full part in their communities. 

The programme focuses on turning hours of fun sports and physical activities into a ‘round the world’ adventure. Participants register the time spent on any type of exercise each week which is used to calculate the distance travelled around the world.

If you know anyone who would enjoy the challenge email [email protected].