Defiant Sports are an Eastbourne based not-for-profit aimed at creating fully inclusive sport, regardless of ability or disability. Through catering for everyone’s sporting needs, asking ‘what would you like to do?’, rather than telling their players how to ‘fit’ in sporting, Defiant hope to encourage happiness and decrease isolation.
Defiant Sports were founded on the principle of getting Managing Director Loretta’s son Callum, who has cerebral palsy and autism, into fair and inclusive tennis. Though this proved challenging in 2014 when Defiant Sports began (officially founded in 2017), disability sports organisations are making waves nationally, with new awards such as the Active Sussex Inclusion and Diversity Award being created in 2021 (Defiant Sports won this award).
Based in Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne, Defiant Sports provide activities around the area and in their Inclusion Hub. This hub features a multi-sports court, socialisation area, small gym, lounge area, and a changing places toilet. They also have a 500 square foot sensory room, which features a huge interactive touch table, designed specifically for people with dementia and learning disabilities, along with various light tubes, displays, and sensory toys. It also has two pop up tents, a black out tent, and lots of tactile and soft blankets to help fully immerse and relax people in the room.
They offer a wide variety of inclusive and accessible sports, including tennis and football for adults with learning disabilities, boccia, home ed sports, youth clubs (8-11yrs and 12yrs+), football for children with SEND, disabled adults social, sensory arts and crafts, disability cricket, and more!
If you’d like to know more about Defiant Sports, you can visit their website (https://defiantsports.org.uk), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/DefiantSports), or get in touch (contact info@defiantsports.org.uk / 07887755856).
