A volunteer-led Special Olympics club in Coleraine has launched a Crowdfunder appeal to take basketball into local communities. The Coleraine Cougars Special Olympics Club wants to raise £6,670 to deliver up to ten outreach programmes across the Causeway Coast and Glens area.

Each programme will have up to 20 participants and run for six weekly sessions. The club will work with schools, disability organisations and community groups to introduce basketball in a supportive environment.

The club currently provides weekly basketball training and competition opportunities for children, young people and adults with learning disabilities in Coleraine. It is affiliated with Special Olympics Ireland.

The club says the project will reduce barriers to participation that people with learning disabilities face, including communication challenges, difficulty understanding instructions and social cues, inadequate support, and misconceptions about their abilities.

It also says many families do not know inclusive opportunities exist and schools and community organisations often struggle to find suitable activities. The outreach programmes are designed to create a transition pathway into regular club membership.

The club has set a fundraising target of £6,670. Donations can be made through Crowdfunder. A key priority is increasing participation by women and girls, who remain under-represented in disability sport, according to the club.