A SPORTING day aimed at breaking down stigma surrounding disability has taken place in Worcester.

The learning disability charity Mencap partnered with the Nunnery Wood High School to give Year Nine pupils a taste of disability sports.

Students and adults with a learning disability played games, including volleyball, goal bowl, javelin and target shooting with and without adaptations, to highlight how sport can be inclusive for everyone.

Diane Hughes, lead employment coordinator for Mencap in Worcester said: “We know that taking part in sport makes people with a learning disability feel more confident, healthy and a part of their community.

“The pupils have benefited from finding out more about learning disability and at the same time creating an inclusive community for adults with a learning disability diagnosis.

Mencap want to encourage the supported adults to gain job skills too and many have completed successful work trails in supermarkets and care homes.

Robert Hadley, 19, who has autism and is supported by Mencap, said: “It’s been fun and I’ve enjoyed the games.”

Pupil Lydia Swatton, 14, said: “To be honest at first it was scary and I didn’t know what to expect and I wondered what it was going to be like but it was fun.”

Tom Kempster, 36, physical education teacher at the Nunnery Wood High School, said: “Sport is for everyone, and this event will show them how people with disabilities can be included in sport.”

The day was held at the Worcester woods Country Park, Wildwood Drive in Worcester.

The event is one of a series of activities taking place across the country to mark Learning Disability Week 2019.