In the last 6 months I have created an inclusive social environment and installed a pool table, this has led to becomming the captain of a new team and we play in Hull’s Tuesday Independent pool league. All my regular players have never played competitive pool, or been in a team before, again due to the lack of accessibility. Two of the teams best players are under 18, the rest of us either live with chronic illness, mental and physical, neuro divergence or part of discriminated groups based on protected characteristics.

A shout out to Dave, Matty & Gav who provide coaching.

I also run an under 18’s pool session with a peer coach, unbelievebly, there’s no provision anywhere in the city. Most places with a pool table here are bars and the only pool hall doesnt allow under 18’s with a guardian.

As a female pool player in Hull (not many of us about). I found barriers and accesibility a big issue when playing in local teams, leagues and tournaments. Even now, I am the only female competitor in a local, individual league, run through cuescore, which allows me to be a ‘catagorised‘ player allowing me to qualify for local tournaments.

Pool is a valuable tool for helping me to live with Complex PTSD and over the years have found that talking therapy, whilst playing, has allowed others to open up, especially my male pool colleagues and young people.