Special Olympics Bermuda has made significant changes to the board of directors including the appointment of a new chair at its annual meeting.

The newly appointed board is made up of seven incumbents and four new directors, including Christopher Cunningham (director of medical and health programmes), Shawnette Easton (fundraising and events committee), Jennifer Howard (family co-ordinator) and Tanika Rayner (secretary).

The board is now under the guidance and leadership of chair Sacha Richardson, who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in disability rights and advocacy, strategic planning, and administrative and operational management of non-profit organisations and small to medium-sized enterprises.

In addition to her new role, Richardson also remains responsible for marketing, communications, and high-level administration, while jointly leading the fundraising and events and volunteer committees.

Special Olympics is a global organisation that provides sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. It aims to promote inclusion, acceptance, and respect for people with intellectual disabilities through the power of sports.

It offers a wide range of Olympic-type sports, giving individuals with intellectual disabilities opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.

Events and programmes are held at local, national, and international levels, fostering an environment of sportsmanship, teamwork, and empowerment for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

The diverse range of skills and expertise brought by the new board members reflects their collective commitment to serving people with intellectual disabilities not only through sport but also holistically.

Through its collective leadership, Special Olympics Bermuda aims to further strengthen its ability to make a lasting impact in the lives of those it serves.

“As a working Board, Special Olympics Bermuda directors perform strategic and fiduciary duties as well as participate in the organisation's day-to-day functions in a volunteer capacity,” said Karen Woollery, national director.

“In keeping with SO International mandates and governing bylaws, the board must comprise of specific key personnel including experts in sport and finance as well as representation of athletes and families.

“As one of the smaller accredited programmes of SO International, SO Bermuda faces several challenges due to our small population, location and human and financial resources needed to implement the many programmes available to us.

“However, we have, and continue to do, all we possibly can to serve people with IDs”.

Meanwhile, Richardson spoke of her desire to have a positive impact on the Special Olympic athletes on island.

“This year and beyond, my hope is that we continuously strive for improvement and success in serving our athletes and the community as a whole,” she said.

“As we look ahead, identifying areas where we can do better, whether it be in our athlete development programmes, community engagement initiatives, or organisational practices must remain at the forefront understanding the importance of continual growth and determination to make the necessary changes to further enhance our impact.

“Likewise, we will diligently continue to build on the areas where we have already achieved success and are eager to embark on new initiatives by fostering collaboration and innovation, pooling our talents and resources and partnering with stakeholders.

“I’m excited for yet another opportunity to advocate for a this population of deserving and inspiring people and humbled that my experience and past contributions is seen and valued as a positive attribute to lead and work alongside this equally amazing team.

“Through this I’m confident that we can make a positive and lasting impact in the years to come.”