Lichfield Paralympian hoping to break diversity barriers after visit to grassroots archery club in Birmingham
Carlene Lorimer has been a para archer for 4 years.
Last updated 11th Sep 2024
A grassroots archery club in Birmingham which is trying to break down diversity barriers has been visited by a Paralympian.
Crescent archers is a free club in Tyseley - set up to encourage more women into the sport and prides itself on the positive impact the sport has on individuals.
StreetGames are the official charity partner of Team GB and one of the UK’s leading ‘sport for development’ charities – changing lives and transforming communities through the power of sport.
Manged by StreetGames in partnership with Brimingham City Council, the Holiday Activity and food programme (known locally in Birmingham as ‘Bring it on Brum’) is a programme funded by the Department for Education designed for families in Birmingham to help children, young people and their parents have fulfilling, active, fun-filled and healthy school holidays. Bring it on Brum! is the biggest scheme of its kind in the country.
Jamila Bi founded Crescent Archers with the support of Archery GB’s project Rimaya’s initiative to encourage more women in to the sport.
Jamila's told us - she's hoping to inspire others: "Archery has many benefits including physical and mental wellbeing but we found the skills learnt in archery are transferable skills that are needed in everyday life such as focus, concentration and patience.
"We are a very diverse, inclusive and thriving archery club based in Birmingham. We have seen first hand the positive impacts archery is making to people’s lives.
"We are a vibrant, inclusive, and diverse archery club, we've witnessed firsthand the positive impact the sport has on individuals. I’m proud to say that archery is one of the most accessible sports, welcoming participants of all ages and abilities. Whether able-bodied or disabled, everyone can enjoy and succeed in archery.
"I am proud to say that archery is one of the most inclusive sports where everyone can take part, it doesn’t matter about age or abilty whether your abled or disabled."
Carlene Lorimer from Lichfield is currently gearing up to compete in the LA 2028 Paralympics and has been a para archer for 4 years.
She's been telling us - it's important we inspire the next generation through grassroots like Crescent.
"Things like this weren't really available when I was younger. It's only as now we're becoming more inclusive and wanting to include children in sports that these clubs are becoming crucial in finding the next level of athletes.
"These sorts of clubs where they can be themselves, they can be children and what this activity offers is crucial because it has got the potential then to spot the next talent, the next athletes to go forward."