RAID Basketball
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Be active, stay connected
RAID (Recreational Activities for People with Intellectual Disability) basketball is a program for people with an intellectual disability.
It provides participants with an opportunity to be part of a sporting team and to enjoy not only the game itself but the friendship, pride and confidence that come from being part of a team. The YMCA RAID program has been running
since 1984 and some of our participants have been involved for over 20 of those years. Participants are welcome to attend for the duration of the evening to watch and support players in the other game.
Looking to get involved? If you are interested in participating, volunteering or sponsoring our RAID program please contact us at activey.canberra@ymca.org.au.
Our programs
Raid Northside
When: Wednesday 6:30-8:30pm
Where: Held at Radford College, Bruce
For: High School + Senior Participants
Cost: $120 p/term
Raid Southside
When: Friday’s 5:30-7:30pm
Where: Held at Marist College, Pearce
For: High School + Senior Participants
Cost: $120 p/term
About
Once a week on a Wednesday night, up to 30 RAID participants and 6 – 10 volunteers from Radford College turn up to play basketball in the Radford College gym. There are two games played, beginners and intermediate, and participants are placed into the game that best suits their level of skill and pace.
The game is played with modified rules to include all players in a team. The Radford student volunteers participate in the games, pass the ball around, coach, and partner up with participants who need that little bit of extra encouragement, pep talking and generally fostering a positive team spirit and ensuring each RAID player has equal participation.
The RAID participants are enthusiastic, noisy and competitive and for many it is the starting point of friendships that will have a significant impact on their lives. For some, this is the only social contact they have outside of their home and this opportunity to socialise is vital to reducing their sense of social isolation.
The YMCA partnership with Radford first started in 2006 when students in Radford’s Team Support Program started volunteering their time to assist with the inclusive basketball program. The presence of the Team Support students is invaluable as it infuses the program with meaningful camaraderie, friendship, fun and laughter.
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Safeguarding children and young people
At The Y Canberra Region safeguarding is embedded in our organisational culture. We are dedicated to providing safe, inclusive environments where children and young people are respected, protected and heard. Our commitment is demonstrated through the implementation of well-defined Safeguarding Children and Young People policies and procedures, ongoing staff training to identify and mitigate risks and a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse or neglect. We actively partner with families and children to ensure they feel empowered to raise concerns with confidence, and we fulfil all legal obligations to report and respond to any matters related to safety or welfare.