Special Olympics Great Britain (GB) corporate partner Toyota GB has recently helped the charity to bring back its National Indoor Athletics Competition, providing financial backing and volunteers to help deliver the event at Lee Valley Athletics Centre.
The event brought together 125 athletes from eight clubs, representing six regions, for a fantastic day of competition, which saw athletes compete in multiple running, throwing and jumping athletic disciplines.
Toyota GB staff played their part by volunteering in the day’s athlete registrations, running the information desk and presenting medals.
Katy Sheehan, Vehicle Co-ordinator for Toyota GB who was there on the day, said: “From the person greeting you at the door, to the athlete about to take part in their race, everyone I met was genuinely happy to see me and so welcoming. I really did feel like part of the family!
Toyota really prides itself on being a mobility partner, and to get to share the day with some of those partners was brilliant. I really hope that this relationship continues with Special Olympics GB and that more people get the same opportunity.
Rachael Crack, Competition Delivery Manager at Special Olympics GB, said: “Our National Indoor Athletics competition had not been hosted since 2022 and it was a regular fixture in the competition calendar, prior to the covid pandemic.
“It’s such a big event and has huge potential to grow further, so we’re very grateful to Toyota for its support in bringing it back and giving our athletes the opportunity and prestige of competing in a national event.”
In addition to its support for the National Indoor Athletics competition, Toyota is actively supporting the coaching network within Special Olympics GB through its Toyota Coaching Fund.
Available to Special Olympics GB’s registered athletes and volunteers, it provides grants to undertake coaching courses and obtain qualifications approved by the appropriate national or international governing body.
“We’ve put 32 coaches onto courses since the Toyota Coaching Fund was launched in June and have more lined up for the new year,” said Connor Fellows, Coach Development Officer at Special Olympics GB.
“It’s a fantastic gesture from Toyota, which not only allows our coaches to upskill themselves to a higher-level coaching qualification, but it is giving our athletes the opportunity to take their first steps into coaching. “Ultimately, the Toyota Coaching Fund is helping us to provide an even stronger level of sports training throughout our network of grassroots sports clubs across England, Scotland and Wales.”
Toyota GB, joined Special Olympics GB as a partner last year having been a regional partner of Special Olympics Europe Eurasia since 2017, and launched its partnership through the development of a Fan Park, at Westfield London, and outdoor digital campaign with fellow partner Ocean Outdoor, which ran throughout the Berlin 2023 Special Olympics World Games.
The company also created celebratory branding of Team Special Olympics GB medal-winners on digital screens across the country and delivered a campaign with LADbible Media. Activations included a giant mural of tennis player Lily Mills near her home in Islington.