'I love the inclusivity of our learning disability running group'

George, Dewni and Aaron love running – but all three have additional needs that have affected their access to the sport.

Thanks to a running group for those with learning disabilities, they have improved their fitness, made friends and even entered races.

In 2024, members of Ilkley Harriers starting leading the group runs with just three people – but they now have 13 regular participants for their jogs around the spa town at the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.

The leaders have now been nominated for a volunteering award by England Athletics.

The BBC joined the group for an evening run, where George, 23, told us he has finished the Ilkley 5k race twice since being part of it.

“I wanted to meet and run with others and wasn’t happy running alone. It makes me feel energised and I love being outdoors.”

Caroline Tong founded the group after her own positive experiences of running.

“Running has seen me through all of life’s ups and downs, it has given me so many things over the years,” she says.

“It has given me resilience and friendship.

“I was very aware that people with learning disabilities don’t get the same opportunities in sport that you or I might get.

“I really wanted to improve visibility and participation. We talk about inclusivity all the time but I think it is really important that we think about what we can do to try and improve that for people.”

The group was started by Caroline Tong in 2024 to help improve inclusivity in sport [BBC]

Two years on, she is joined by a team of dedicated volunteers who show up every Tuesday night.

Dewni, 18, says she loves running and making new friends, and has bonded with leader Ruth Jones.

Ruth says: “When we started some of the group couldn’t run all the way around the park without sitting on a bench, but now we can, so they have done really well.

“They have really improved, and the great thing about running is that in the Harriers we always stop to regroup, so you can run at whatever pace you like.”

The learning disability group meets at the town’s tennis club at the same time as the rest of the Harriers so that everyone feels included.

A group of volunteers lead the runs [BBC]

Aaron, 26, was one of the first people to join the club.

“I absolutely love it, it gets me out and keeps me fit.

“I’ve made so many friends, I really love the inclusivity and feeling of togetherness, and the friendship and support we have in the group.”

“No matter what goes on in the week, we get together every week and it is a fantastic social night for us,” he says.

Aidan says the best thing about the group is making friends, and building up his confidence. He has also lost weight since he started running, through a combination of eating well and moving more.

“I’ve done two Ilkley 5ks, the second time I beat my personal best by four minutes.”

Barney and Aaron have made friends and gained fitness [BBC]

Stefanie has been coming to the group for two years.

“I love running, I love being in a group and we did a 5k together.

“I come every week and I go to the gym twice a week. I’ve loved making so many friends here.”

Another runnner, Alice, 26, credits the group with helping her get out more as well as raising awareness of people with disabilities.

Since joining the group, her confidence has grown so much she has taken part in Parkruns in nearby Skipton and Keighley.

Stefanie and Aidan have become great friends through the running group [BBC]

The Ilkley Harriers Learning Disability (LD) Running Group is nominated for the Unsung Project of the Year in the England Athletics regional vounteer awards.

The winner will be announced on Friday.

Caroline says the best thing about the group is the fact that people support each other and keep coming back.

“We really love it when people come to our group and explore an area of Ilkley that maybe they haven’t been to before.

“It might be that they feel a bit unsteady on their feet or not confident, but they are buzzing when they finish!”

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