The Special Olympics Organisation of Saskatchewan is starting a new program for children and youth in Weyburn.

 The new program starts September 21st at the Weyburn Free Methodist Church building located on 14th st and Souris Ave.

"We have two sessions. One's called Active Start which is for ages 2-7 and we just focus on those basic movement skills like how to catch a ball, how to kick, those basic skills that maybe the athletes don't get to learn one on one as much as they need to. We also have another session called Fundamentals that are for ages 7-12 and that's where we put those fundamental movement skills that we taught in 'Active Start', into sports. So kicking a ball in kickball or swinging a bat and hitting a ball in baseball and different things like that."

Wall talked about how she got involved in volunteering with the Special Olympics. " I started volunteering for Special Olympics in Regina when I was in university and I just fell in love with the youth programs. I just absolutely adored it and I actually ended up working at the provincial office in Regina and I continued as I worked there to volunteer."

Wall moved to Weyburn and saw there was a program for floor hockey and bowling for ages eight and up but nothing for younger ages. "I really wanted to tackle that youth population for Weyburn and surrounding area,  I went to work and here we are."

Registration is open to anyone within the right age group but Wall would like Weyburn to know that if anyone, for example, is 14 who wants to participate, they won't be turned away.

"We take registrations at any time, the program is completely free. If it doesn't fill up and you just want to check it out your more than welcome to."

The Active Start group is at 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm. The Fundamentals group runs from 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm.

"If you're not sure if you want to register your child, come out, check it out and see what you think," said Wall.

This program is not limited to just children with learning difficulties. 

"Other children are welcome to come too. It teaches the athletes with intellectual disabilities, how to engage and play with their peers, and it teaches those peers, how to engage and play with those athletes. It's a really great program and I love that it fosters that family orientation."

Special Olympics Saskatchewan is a non-profit organization that relies on fundraising and donations.

Weyburn is home to Special Olympians who performed well at this year's Special Olympics Provincial Games. You can read more about this here.

Special Olympics Weyburn is having their annual general meeting on September 12th, at 7 pm in the Weyburn Credit Union Community room and is open to the public.