'Touch' - Ice Ability

Ice Abilty members and volunteers, Bracknell Ice Skating Rink, Binfield, April 2014 

Yesterday I was lucky enough to spend an hour of my day documenting Ice Ability, a club that aims to provide an enjoyable and safe atmosphere for children with learning difficulties to develop their learning, socializing and sport participation.

The club which is part of Bracknell Ice Skating Club shares the moto 'Skating for all' meaning that it caters for not only a wide range of abilities of skating (e.g complete beginners to children who are successfully working their way through Skate UK) but also a wide range of learning difficulties. Although the club started with its main focus being on catering for children with mild learning difficulties such as being on the autistic spectrum it also caters for children who are mute and visually impaired.  Coach and Qualified Sign Language speaker Chris Hockaday hopes to one day unite both his passion for coaching and signing. 

Although the session was perhaps a little bit of a mad house, it is clear that not only the children who are members of the club but also the volunteers who help run it are having the time of the lives, even if simply means that they can spend an hour a week forgetting about the stress of homework instead allowing themselves to turn cones into obstacles courses, funky fashion accessories or beautiful pictures.  

Volunteers help Oliver to gather speed, Ice Ability, Bracknell Ice Skating Rink, April 2014 

Volunteer Charlotte Pratt uses her creativity to help the little ones paint a ice picture, Ice Ability, Bracknell Ice Skating Rink, April 2014

Volunteer Penny Clarke shows off the latest in Ice Fashion, Ice Ability, Bracknell Ice Skating Rink, April 2014 

A experience adult volunteer assists a child with complete visual impairment to skate, Ice Ability, Bracknell Ice Skating Rink, April 2014 

The session at play, Ice Ability, Bracknell Ice Skating Rink, April 2014

Penny assists Daniel to skate (Daniel suffers from being mute), Ice Ability, Bracknell Ice Skating Rink, April 2014 

The latest in Ice fashion, Ice Ability, Bracknell Ice Skating Rink, April 2014

Volunteer Beth Clarke teaching them how to skate backwards, Ice Ability, Bracknell Ice Skating Rink, April 2014

The ice flower coming along nicely, Ice Ability, Bracknell Ice Skating Rink, April 2014

Volunteer Penny Clarke and the Penguin race, Ice Ability, Bracknell Ice Skating Rink, April 2014


ALL IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT ELLIE HETEBRIJ