Games2Inspire at St Ursula's 2025
It was lovely to return to St Ursula’s Catholic Primary School in Romford. We started with an assembly focusing on ‘Overcoming Barriers’, determination and values attributed to St Ursula: kindness, honesty, bravery and resilience.
The best question is still making me think:
“What was the hardest thing you have had to face?”
Is it learning to dress? eat? etc – the practical things. Or is it more emotional ones, such as why am I different? will I be able to work? I need to think further to come up with a suitable answer for Y5 9 year olds.
The year group was split into their two classes. St Teresa class, a lively bunch, thoroughly enjoyed all of sitting volleyball, boccia, goalball and new age kurling. If anything, they were so excited and enthusiastic, they took too long to listen to instructions and time slipped past and we missed out on sitting netball.
When I asked the class what they had learned, one young boy said, rather ruefully:
“to listen to our teacher!”
Others happily repeated
“I can’t do it…YET!”, “Never give up”, and “Practice makes progress”.
Many of the children expressed how valuable it was to be able to take part in inclusive sports where everyone is on an equal playing field. Another pupil noted that John had taught him life lessons that will stick with him forever and that teamwork and determination can lead to ‘progress’.
Class St Thomas, who came into the hall after lunch, were equally enthusiastic. I was amused when one pupil had a blindfold put back on by a teacher, the right way up, exclaimed,
“But I can’t see!”.
They added to the learning answers, that disabled people can play sports with anyone, teamwork, and kindness.
A big thanks to Ms Fatima Mahamed and Ms Caroline Hall for their support and help. We are hoping to persuade St Ursula’s to come to a PowerHouseGames in London soon, so they can experience the fun of playing inclusive sport with disabled children.
It was a lovely day and my hero, Paddington Bear – he has paws like me! – would have been so happy they champion kindness and honesty.
What are Games2Inspire?
Games2Inspire events are incredible events, most often hosted in schools, with an assembly and sports day which includes activities designed to be accessible and fun for everyone, with disabilities and none, sporty and not. Participants get to meet our inspirational founder, John Willis, and hear all about how John has overcome obstacles in his life. They then get to put that learning to practice by playing adapted games and sports together learning new skills and being encouraged to test their beliefs about ability and disability and what it is to be different, learning to respect other people’s differences. Power2Inspire works with them to challenge their assumptions of what they can and cannot do.
Inspired? Then Get Involved!
If you are interested in hosting a Games2Inspire in your school / college / company / community group then we would love to hear from you.
We are also always looking out for people willing to fundraise for Power2Inspire through their own inspiring means. Or, you could volunteer individually at one of our events, or you could give to the ongoing work of Power2Inspire. There are SO MANY WAYS we can all help to ensure “no on else is left on the bench!” Click the button here to find out more.
Please note: Photos are from previous year’s games
⚽ Record-breaking day at CU Football PowerHouseGames
Record Numbers
What a day at the Cambridge University Association Football Club (CUAFC) PowerHouseGames! Held at the University Sports Centre, this year’s event set a new record with 96 participants coming together for a festival of inclusion, sport and smiles.
A Fantastic Coming Together
Students and community groups joined forces with 36 Cambridge University footballers (both women and men), plus groups from St John’s College School (14 pupils), PEM (12 volunteers), Landmark International (12 pupils), Castle Special School (10 pupils) and Rowan (12 adult participants). Twelve mixed teams in brightly coloured shirts filled the hall, each discovering new sports and new friendships.
A Day of Discovery
For many, the day was about more than sport. As David Millward, Director of Sport at St John’s College School, explained:
“They walk into the hall and suddenly they’re in a team with people they’ve never met before – older students, footballers, SEN pupils. It just breaks down barriers all day long. It really opens their eyes to a different way of enjoying sport with a wider range of people.”
The games, from boccia and new age kurling to goalball and sitting netball, were carefully chosen to level the playing field, with abilities set aside in favour of teamwork and encouragement.
Inclusion in Action
Sarah Wright, Head Teacher at St John’s, summed up the importance of the day:
“This is an amazing opportunity for our children to experience something we couldn’t otherwise provide. They don’t see the differences, they just see they’re part of a team. That’s everything to them.”
Helen Seabourne from Landmark International School echoed this, sharing how one pupil who usually struggles with PE joined in with enthusiasm:
“She’s never been before yet here she is, joining in and doing it. It’s lovely and really humbling for our kids.”
A Partnership that Works
CUAFC’s involvement was central, with dozens of players throwing themselves into sports they’d never tried before. Anna Hipkiss, Women’s Co-President, said:
“It’s amazing to get involved in the community. It’s a lot of fun for us too! Even I didn’t know some of the other squad members, so it was a great day for meeting people all round.”
The Spirit of PowerHouseGames
For students like Marta from Landmark International, it’s simple:
“You feel really included and it just lifts your mood. Even if you don’t want to do a game there’s no stress — it’s about the achievement and the support.”
That message was visible in every smile, every cheer, and every medal at the end of the day.
Thank you
Our thanks go to the volunteers, the schools and groups, the incredible CUAFC men’s and women’s squads, and of course our founder John Willis and the Power2Inspire team for making this record-breaking day possible.
Together, you’ve shown again that when everyone has the chance to play, no one is left on the bench.
Inspired? Then Get Involved!
Would your university sports team, or school love to be involved in a PowerHouseGames? Could your company support our mission by volunteering at one of our PowerHouseGames? If so, then we would love to hear from you. We are also always looking out for people willing to fundraise for Power2Inspire through their own inspiring means. Or, you could volunteer individually at one of our events, or you could give to the ongoing work of Power2Inspire. There are SO MANY WAYS we can all help to ensure “no on else is left on the bench!” Click the button here to find out more.
First ever PowerHouseGames in Hyde Park, London
Brand New Iconic Venue
Thanks to the Blackstone Charitable Foundation and a wonderful group of employees we were able to hold our first ever PowerHouseGames in Hyde Park, London on Friday 19th September 2025.
Graced with the best weather of September, a gloriously sunny, blue sky and hot autumn day, we made the most of the former football pitches the authorities hire out, pictured here under the P2I logo
Old Friends & New
Joining the Blackstone volunteers were a group of 15 from Roehampton University, a mix of staff and students from Digby Stuart College. Four schools came – Centre Academy (a special needs independent school), College Park (maintained special needs school), Plashet School (state secondary), and Burlington House (independent school focussing on dyslexia, dyscalculia, and other specific learning differences).
The twelve teams of mostly 6 really got stuck into the 6 games: walking touch rugby, walking football, kwik cricket, boccia, sitting volleyball and goalball. The location, the sunshine and the enthusiasm of the students made these, a memorable games.
A Team Effort
A huge thank you to volunteer Lois Gosling, a frequent attendee of PowerHouseGames in London. She did say it was a local game as she lives close by and is studying at Imperial College. We hope to engage Imperial College with a Games.
I would also like to thank Professor Marilyn Holness, the Head of Digby Stuart College, Roehampton University. Not only did she encourage her staff and students to attend, she also helped massively behind the scenes – those unseen tasks of sorting the t-shirts, the snacks, and the medals and certificates – as well as encouraging all the participants.
Although the venue provided a lovely backdrop, and there was plenty of hooping and hollering celebrating great shots and goals with the sun making it a very special day, I agree with Jonathan Chambers, Vice President of Blackstone Charitable Foundation who said:
“An indoors venue creates a more vibrant atmosphere.”
More To Come
The teachers were universally enthusiastic, saying what a wonderful day it was, so inclusive, such fun, and so different from any other opportunities.
Marilyn, a great fan, is so keen she wants to host two PowerHouseGames this academic year, one at the University for local schools, and one in Croydon, for pupils’ from schools around Roehampton’s Croydon University Centre, which would double their usual number.
It shows the demand. And it is thanks to Blackstone and our other corporate supporters that we can carry on with this growth. If you know of a company that would love their employees to have a truly impactful experience when volunteering, please put them in touch.
The Volunteer Difference
As Nic Dupuis (Managing Director, Blackstone Group) put it:
“You could see the kids were delighted at the end of the day and some of them built such strong bonds it was heart-warming to see.”
Corporate volunteers make that happen!
Inspired? Then Get Involved!
Would your university sports team, or school love to be involved in a PowerHouseGames? Could your company support our mission by volunteering at one of our PowerHouseGames? If so, then we would love to hear from you. We are also always looking out for people willing to fundraise for Power2Inspire through their own inspiring means. Or, you could volunteer individually at one of our events, or you could give to the ongoing work of Power2Inspire. There are SO MANY WAYS we can all help to ensure “no on else is left on the bench!” Click the button here to find out more.
Bedford Blues PowerHouseGames 2025
Back with the Blues
It was a joy to return to the Bedford Blues Rugby ground for our second PowerHouseGames with the Blues Foundation. Tom Harwood laid on dry weather and a warm breeze, perfect conditions for our six games: walking touch rugby – brilliantly led by Ed from the Blues, walking football, kwik cricket, boccia, sitting volleyball and goalball.
Teams Together
It was wonderful to have 6 volunteers from Bellway back again, enthusiastic and helpful as ever. The twelve teams were also made up of Foundation staff, 16 from Bedford Academy, and groups from Grange Academy, Bedford Modern and Ivel Valley. Richard Lightfoot, one of our extraordinary trustees, joined in and brought the SENCO (special educational needs coordinator) from his school’s trust to see the fun. Two other trustees, Stephen Peak and Gemma Thake, came to help. And Chris Fell, volunteer photographer, took the fabulous photos, you can see here.
Handing on the baton!
Such was the excellent support from Tom and his team, and Stephen, I soon felt superbly redundant. After explaining or reminding how to play the games to the corporate volunteers and the Foundation staff, and welcoming all the schools, it was lovely to see how quickly the teams got on with having fun.
As one volunteer reported afterwards,
“The kids in my team were quiet to begin with, but as the rounds progressed, they developed friendships within the team and were urging each other on in the final half.”
By the end it is difficult to remember that these teams were put together just a couple of hours before. And the engagement of the SEN students is remarkable: I love the fact that it appears so normal.
New Opportunities
Jonathan Bungard, Deputy Head (Pastoral) of Bedford Modern Junior School explained the value to his independent school students:
“This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to work with people they have not had the opportunity to work with before: mixed groups, mixed ages, mixed genders, and mixed range of abilities. Every single child I have seen is beaming away. They are learning new sports, new challenges. I have seen some of our less traditionally sporty children really excelling in what they are doing.”
Special award
In our usual closing ceremony with medals and certificates presented by the Foundation’s Ed, Elan, Steve and Tom – they are very well received and not just by the children – we had a special presentation. Gemma Thake, our trustee, who had brought new-born Theo, the youngest ever attendee at our games, presented young Jack from Ivel Valley, a special school that has attended numerous PHGs now, with a Bedford Blues pennant to recognise the 5,000th attendee at a PowerHouseGames. We are so proud of this milestone. It shows the demand, the need for these inclusive games and the wonderful support of our corporate partners, such as Bellway and Richard Lightfoot’s company, PhysicalEd+ to make it happen!
What are PowerHouseGames?
PowerHouseGames are incredible sports days using adapted games and sports, with activities designed to be accessible and fun for everyone, old and young, with disabilities and none, sporty and not. Participants are encouraged to test their beliefs about ability and disability and what it is to be different, to learn to respect other people’s differences, and Power2Inspire works with them to challenge their assumptions of what they can and cannot do.
Inspired? Then Get Involved!
Would your university sports team, or school love to be involved in a PowerHouseGames? Could your company support our mission by volunteering at one of our PowerHouseGames? If so, then we would love to hear from you. We are also always looking out for people willing to fundraise for Power2Inspire through their own inspiring means. Or, you could volunteer individually at one of our events, or you could give to the ongoing work of Power2Inspire. There are SO MANY WAYS we can all help to ensure “no on else is left on the bench!” Click the button here to find out more.
All photos reproduced with kind permission from Chris Fell Photos.
The Stephen Perse Games2Inspire 2025
A second visit to Stephen Perse and another success. If anything, it was better than last year. Despite the weather – it was wet for large parts of the day – fun was had by 142 Year 9s.
Following an assembly in the hall, when I shared my life story and urged them to embrace public exams as I was initially prohibited from taking O levels – it is such a life changer to be allowed to take exams – the 6 classes took part in 6 different activities.
These were goalball, sitting volleyball, sitting netball, tabletop games, boccia/new age kurling and a blindfold cone slalom challenge. We paired boccia and new age kurling to keep up the interest. For similar reasons we had table cricket, polybat and tabletop curling. We haven’t used these much before, so it was lovely to see them creating excitement, competition and learning there are games for wheelchair users and those with limited mobility.
We had six different rotations featuring five inclusive sports: Boccia, Goalball, Sitting Volleyball, New Age Kurling, and Sitting Netball. As with all Games2Inspire, these activities were inclusive and engaging for all. The school also held a brilliant inclusive kilometre where students of all abilities could run, walk, wheel, skip or jump to the finish line! It was also lovely to see the school run a #108challenge as part of their fundraising for Power2Inspire. It is always wonderful to see the legacy of my own #108challenge Kayak continue into 2024 and I hope to encourage more schools, individuals and organisations to participate in their own #108challenge. The day before, the schools had a non-uniform day to boost their fundraising efforts, which was a fantastic success. Prizes were up for grabs for the class and individual who raised the most funds.
We altered the inclusive kilometre into a cone slalom around the main hall, which avoided the poor weather outside. Splitting the class in to approximately 12 pairs, each pair, one blindfolded, one acting as a guide, had to negotiate around the hall, ensuring the blindfolded partner walked through a series of ‘gates’ (two cones separated by about 30 cms). The second time round these gates were made much tighter requiring increased accuracy. The addition of a deduction of points if a cone was touched brought even greater concentration.
To finish the blindfold exercise, we asked the class to stand in a circle, hold hands and then put on their blindfolds. The task was then to create a square! This is extremely difficult and requires great cooperation and communication. One teacher suggested to one class when their shape looked more like an amoeba, to try a circle again, which was successful and then a triangle, which was excellent, and their second effort at a square was almost spot on.
The Year 9s are fundraising for Power2Inspire for taking part. This will help enormously with our efforts to inspire inclusive sport around the country, in particular taking these Games2Inspire into state schools. And a select 12 from the year group will come, we hope, to one of our PowerHouseGames at the Cambridge University Sports Centre.
A big thank you to Charlotte Wells and her sports staff team for supervising the games and making the day so successful.
What are Games2Inspire?
Games2Inspire events are incredible events, most often hosted in schools, with an assembly and sports day which includes activities designed to be accessible and fun for everyone, with disabilities and none, sporty and not. Participants get to meet our inspirational founder, John Willis, and hear all about how John has overcome obstacles in his life. They then get to put that learning to practice by playing adapted games and sports together learning new skills and being encouraged to test their beliefs about ability and disability and what it is to be different, learning to respect other people’s differences. Power2Inspire works with them to challenge their assumptions of what they can and cannot do.
Inspired? Then Get Involved!
If you are interested in hosting a Games2Inspire in your school / college / company / community group then we would love to hear from you.
We are also always looking out for people willing to fundraise for Power2Inspire through their own inspiring means. Or, you could volunteer individually at one of our events, or you could give to the ongoing work of Power2Inspire. There are SO MANY WAYS we can all help to ensure “no on else is left on the bench!” Click the button here to find out more.
