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Successful community clubs and groups thrive on providing inclusive and accessible opportunities, where different members of their local community come together and enjoy the benefits of being physically active.

United Judo are a club based in the London Borough of Bexley. Built on the values of honesty, integrity and inclusion, they aspire to create an environment where everyone can be involved and feel welcome, safe and supported.

We caught up with their founder and head coach, Dave Quinn, to find out more about the steps United Judo have taken to provide inclusive opportunities and the positive impact this has had on members of their local community.

Two young judokas grapple on a mat.

Inclusive offering

United Judo pride themselves on providing something for everyone. As a highly qualified coach, Dave wanted to give back to his community by delivering a range of sessions aimed at different groups. The sessions offered include:

Introduction to judo sessions
These enable people to attend sessions free of charge for two weeks, with no need to purchase equipment or clothing.
All-ability junior classes
Weekly sessions that encourage children and young people to engage in positive activities and find a positive path.
Inclusive and special needs sessions
Aimed at children and young people with special needs, disabilities and long term health conditions, these sessions are person-centred and focus on fun, judo-based games and activities where participants learn key movements and skills.
Women-only sessions
Providing sessions for women and girls of all ages. These have led to more females joining, sustaining their participation and even leading to them entering competitions.
Toddler classes
Providing a safe environment and age-appropriate activities for toddlers at a low cost.
Older adults
Encouraging older individuals to stay active and improve their mobility and confidence in a low-impact environment. They also enable older adults to maintain their balance, fall safely and recover using judo techniques.
Competitive classes
Competitive members join a squad, which provides a supportive team environment and builds confidence.

Using a person-centred approach

Embedding inclusion

Inclusion is at the heart of United Judo’s values and is strongly embedded into their culture. To help provide an environment where everyone is safe, comfortable and can participate, they:

Ask for support

United Judo are a member of the Bexley Disability Sport Network, hosted by their local voluntary service council (VSC). They have found asking and learning from others in the network helpful in providing and maintaining an inclusive environment.

Provide support with costs

The club offer discounted sessions to those from low-income families and cap session fees, which means if members train more than three times a week, they can attend any additional sessions for free.

Listen to their members

United Judo regularly hold meetings where everyone gets a chance to give their opinions, suggestions and feedback.

Ensure members feel safe

The presence of the club’s welfare officer ensures children and adults feel safe and know where to go for help if they have a concern. 

Provide an accessible venue

The club ensure that their venue is accessible and have invested in a ramp to support wheelchair users or members with mobility issues.

The growth of United Judo

United Judo consider that their inclusive practices have helped contribute to their growth over the last few years, including in:

Membership

Living out their values and providing positive experiences for all has meant the club has grown to over 270 members across all ages.

Volunteering

By recognising and aligning with the club's values, parents of participants have been keen to support the club. Some have taken on committee roles and others, who’ve previously been successful in the sport, volunteer as coaches. The club now have 12 coaches with a variety of skills and levels of experience.

Finding a home

United Judo started by running sessions in a sports hall before being offered free use of a community space at a local church. While they still use the church hall, the club now have a purpose-built, fully accessible dojo, based at a rugby club, which shares similar values and a commitment to inclusion.

United Judo logo.

Impact

Being inclusive has resulted in many positive impacts for the members and volunteers of United Judo, including:

  • support for their physical and mental wellbeing
  • improved self-confidence
  • reduced anti-social behaviour
  • mproved social and physical skills
  • sustained participation levels
  • coaching and volunteering opportunities.

Challenges

Like many clubs and organisations, United Judo have faced challenges and worked hard to overcome them. These have included:

Volunteer recruitment

All coaches at United Judo are volunteers. Many juggle family and social commitments. Scheduling conflicts often mean the club’s founder needs to step in and cover. In an attempt to recruit more volunteers, they’ve worked closely with their local council for voluntary service (CVS).

Keeping sessions affordable

After losing funding for their disability sessions, United Judo have had to absorb the cost themselves to keep session fees affordable. They’re looking for other sources of financial income, such as sponsorships from local businesses.

Coaches for women’s classes

United Judo are keen to recruit more female volunteers to ensure diversity within their coaching team.

Top tips

United Judo’s top tips for other organisations striving to create inclusive environments are:

Use a person-centred approach
Treat each person as an individual and take time to understand their specific needs, barriers and challenges.
Train and develop volunteers
Ensure your volunteers have appropriate training to help them feel confident in engaging, communicating and meeting the needs of different groups.
Reach out to your local voluntary services organisation
Your local VSC or CVS can provide you with insights, learning and support. They can also help you attract more volunteers or promote your offer.

Learn more

To find out more about United Judo, visit their website. For more information on creating inclusive environments, check out our ‘Being inclusive’ resources.