University of Warwick PowerHouseGames 2025
Our third trip to the fabulous Sports and Wellness Hub at the University of Warwick to host a PowerHouseGames happened on Thursday 27th February 2025 – and it was the best so far!
The University Campus and Commercial Services Group Finance team threw themselves into the fun with gusto; the student volunteers were simply magnificent: energetic, enthusiastic, motivating and encouraging – true ambassadors for the university. Avon Park (special needs and autism) school were returners and very keen to enjoy the fun again. Arnold Lodge, an independent school, came for the first time with children with some additional needs. It was wonderful that they should be selected to represent their school, as this cohort so often miss out. And Ormiston Shelfield, a second SEN school, had come from all the way from Walsall.
It was a joyous morning of inclusive sports. Boccia, new age kurling, sitting volleyball, walking football, goalball and sitting netball were all enjoyed before a mad, chaotic, laughter-filled game of sitting netball with everyone playing. The blues and greens took on the other colours, and to make it inclusive, we allowed one player from each team to be the ‘goal attacker’ – the perfect way for a wheelchair user to be involved.
The teachers comments were heartwarming:
“Those two children are always together, and I was worried that they would not cope being split up. But they are thriving, smiling and being engaged more than I have ever seen.”
“I have never seen those two boys engage as much ever.”
“I cannot remember the last time I saw [that pupil] smile and this morning, he hasn’t stopped smiling.”
Andrew Todd, Director of Regional Strategy and Partnerships at The University of Warwick, said:
“It was great to host our third PowerHouseGames and fantastic to see the power of sport in bringing together teams of pupils from different schools and backgrounds and the fun that they had. This year we were really pleased to include Warwick volunteers from our Campus and Commercial Services Group’s finance team, who really entered into the wonderful spirit of the games”
Mark Hyndman, Director of Sport and Active Lifestyles at Warwick Sport, said:
“This year’s instalment of the PowerHouseGames provided an opportunity for us to strengthen our partnership with Power2Inspire, and continue playing our part in hosting events that celebrate accessibility, inclusivity and diversity at our Sports and Wellness Hub at the University of Warwick. Local schools, our staff networks and the student community enjoyed a day full of fun – centred around an inspiring and meaningful purpose to encourage participation in sport and active lifestyles for all, regardless of ability levels or background.”
Thank you!
Thanks to Iain Mckinney, Head of Sports Delivery at Warwick, and particularly, his team, Jade Woodward and Georgina Pilling at the sharp end – for helping to recruit the students and schools and organising the hall.
A big thank you to Andrew Todd who kindly opened the Games and, along with Becky Easterbrook, Regional Partnerships Manager, closed the Games. I was delighted Jade and Georgie joined Andrew and Rebecca to hand out medals and certificates – everyone is a winner at a PowerHouseGames and “No one is left on the bench!”
The students and finance team participants described on video their experience in one word, as Fun, Energising, Teamwork, Awesome, and from two wheelchair users – Included!
Here’s to the Fourth Warwick PowerHouseGames next year!
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 used with permission.
Worcester University PowerHouseGames 2025
I was thrilled to return to the Worcester Arena, a purpose-built accessible sports venue, to see Worcester University host and run their third PowerHouseGames, on Thursday 13th February.
Jeremy Macklin, our wonderful chair, had volunteered again and he commented:
“John, it has been so well organised and run, we are redundant!”
This is a very happy place for us to be; and is very much part of the Power2Inspire development, as we see host organisations building the capacity and skills to host the games and bring fun, inclusive sports to hundreds more children and adults.
The Worcester University Sports students were the heartbeat of the day: they led the teams and supervised the games, with assistance from Hannah Pettigrew of Worcestershire County Cricket Club and Matt Cowdrey and Matt Lancett from the Worcester Warriors (rugby) Foundation. They were joined by 6 sports stars from the university. Their joint enthusiasm inspired the children from three local schools: Regency School, Nunnery Wood Secondary School, and St Clement’s Primary School.
The 12 teams played boccia, goalball, sitting netball, kwik cricket, walking football, and touch rugby.
It was a joy to behold as the students bonded their teams, guided their charges through new and unfamiliar games, all with laughter and smiles.
We were joined by three ambassadors from the university: Alice Hopkins, an England international blind footballer; Imogen Longworth, wheelchair basketball star; and Dan McLaughlin, another national level wheelchair basketball player. – all pictured below:
Alice threw herself into the event, taking up the challenge of being goal shooter in a giant game of sitting netball and scoring 17 goals for her team, extraordinary considering her visual impairment! It just proves there is always a way to adapt a game to make it accessible and fun for all.
However, let the students explain the power of the games:
Holly Aston:
“Attending the Power2inspire event was an incredibly rewarding experience. Seeing the joy and confidence grow in participants as they engaged in inclusive sports was truly inspiring. The event reinforced the importance of creating opportunities where everyone, regardless of ability, feels valued and empowered. Being part of an environment filled with encouragement, teamwork, and smiles was uplifting, and I felt privileged to contribute. It highlighted the profound impact of inclusivity in sports and the need for continued support for such initiatives. Power2inspire makes a real difference, and I am grateful to have been involved.”
Alicia Paul:
“The PowerHouseGames provide such an inclusive and safe environment for children and gives them the special opportunity to be with other like-minded people and embrace opportunities. Integrating sports games and learning with the element of having fun was such a powerful and evident message that ran through the event. Volunteering was such a pleasure.”
Tom James (PE & Coaching):
“The event showed me how easy it is to manipulate and change sports quickly to give everyone an opportunity, as well as still having the element of enjoyment for all participating. It also highlighted that everyone just wants to be happy through playing sport no matter what version or adaptation of it, so long as it is enjoyable, and they have people around them who also want to enjoy it and have the best experience.”
Jake Newcombe:
“It was an amazing event. Turning up to the event I thought that I would just be on childcare duty, but it turned into something that was really fun, where I go to play and get involved with everyone from different demographics and abilities. The connection I made with my group and some of the opposing groups were great, and it made me happy to see them get involved and most importantly have fun!”
And lastly, Mia Griffiths:
“This was a fantastic event to be a part of. It was great seeing everyone active and engaged in all of the sports no matter their age, ability or gender. It was clear that the children followed the number 1 rule of the charity… to have fun!!”
A heartfelt thank you
This day wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of the Eveson Trust. We were very pleased to host Karen Dobson, the Trust’s funding officer, and she joined the ambassadors to hand out the medals and certificates. We hope the joy she witnessed will encourage her and the trustees to develop a partnership with Power2Inspire and the University over the years ahead, to enable many more PowerHouseGames to take place in Worcestershire, creating laughter and joy, enabling all participants to have fun!
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 used with permission.
Granta Park PowerHouseGames with illumina
We were delighted to facilitate this year’s Granta Park PowerHouseGames with illumina. The event took place on Thursday, July 11th, 2024, at the amazing Granta Park, Cambridge.
This was our first corporate-only version of PowerHouseGames and an essential step to introducing Power2Inspire to the business community. On the day Illumina and Sphere provided two teams, while Bidwells and Nuffield provided one team. So, we had six fantastic teams competing!
We were also lucky to have Rob Richardson, former GB sitting volleyball team captain, playing. His expertise and visible demonstration that disabled people can play alongside non-disabled players embodied our mission. By showcasing this inclusion in action to potential new corporate partners, we hope to encourage them to join our university PowerHouseGames in future and lead teams that include students from local special needs schools.
We competitively played goalball and sitting volleyball throughout the evening, with a trophy at stake. The Pink Team caught my eye for the joy they displayed. Many of their members seemed surprised at being able to compete in sports and to have such fun doing so. Their laughter and smiles were infectious. In the end, the Bidwells team took home the trophy – very well deserved!
My hope is that this becomes an annual event, attracting more companies and participants of different abilities. I know many of the participants have brought their joyous experience back to their colleagues, encouraging them to volunteer with Power2Inspire in PowerHouseGames, fundraising, and partnering with us. Ideally, other business parks will hear about the fun and want to host their own events!
A personal thank you to Hollie Church for believing in our cause, promoting it to your Illumina colleagues, and participating in our events!
Becca O’Keefe from Bidwells helped organise the event, so a huge shoutout to her as well! Becca also shared wonderful feedback with us, where she said
“The event was a huge success, and we thank John and the team for bringing the PowerHouseGames to Granta Park. Everyone had a fantastic time, and it is definitely something we will be adding to our summer of sports calendar here every year to ensure they are as inclusive as possible. Thank you again to Power2Inspire for introducing us to these fantastic games.”
The event concluded with a barbecue, and everyone received medals and certificates. It was a tremendous success, and I look forward to repeating it again soon!
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 used with permission
Games2Inspire at King's Ely
The month of July couldn’t have started any better than at King’s Ely School with another wonderful Games2Inspire. With 115 pupils from King’s Ely and Fairstead House, a prep school in Newmarket, the day brought together students from years three to eight for a Monday filled with inclusive sport.
Our youngest participants, the year threes and fours, enjoyed six adaptive games on the sports ground in front of the school. These activities were organised in a carousel format, meaning every child had a chance to participate in each one.
The six activities included: Boccia, Sitting Volleyball, Target Games, Parachute Games, Goalball, and Walking Touch Rugby.
In a spring of luck, the weather was beautiful which certainly added to the ease and enjoyment of the day. The parachute games were a particular highlight, offering the kids a unique opportunity to experience a game that was completely new to all of them!
The year fives and sixes were spread out around the school, participating in various inclusive games too including Sitting Netball, New Age Curling, Goalball, and Quick Cricket. The feedback from the teachers was overwhelmingly positive; they spoke of how
“engaged and enthusiastic the children were with each student demonstrating remarkable teamwork, communication, and adaptability, learning new skills quickly and having a lot of fun in the process.”
The year sevens and eights, comprising around 200 students, participated in activities organised within their groups. The activities for the older students included Blindfolded Guided Running, Basketball and Netball Challenge, and Blind Football. The students were particularly excited about the four wheelchairs donated by Aveva and used for the day. A special shoutout goes to Aveva for the generous donation of the wheelchairs, which added a unique element to this Games2Inspire.
Learning to steer and push these wheelchairs proved challenging, but all students significantly improved with practice! This was a great example of overcoming challenges, fitting well with an assembly I led at the start of the day, where I spoke about overcoming barriers and showcased some of the gadgets made for my Road-to-Rio challenge.
Speaking of challenges, the day at King’s Ely was also part of the school’s efforts to fundraise for Power2Inspire through different 108challenges. It was amazing to see the innovative ways the students embraced the #108challenge, as well as seeing the legacy of my own #108challenge kayak down the Thames continue. For more information see the #108challenge page.
The day at King’s Ely was a resounding success, and we are grateful to everyone who participated and brought such wonderful energy to the event. I look forward to the next one!
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.
Two brand new Games2Inspire events in Oxford
On Monday June 25th, and Tuesday June 26th, we returned to Oxford for two Games2Inspire events!
On Monday, I had the pleasure of visiting St. Christopher’s Church of England Primary School. The school’s diversity was immediately evident, with a board displaying “Welcome” in thirty languages upon my arrival! This display highlighted the inclusive environment fostered by the school’s dedicated teachers.
A special shout out must go to the Year 5 group, whose enthusiasm and teamwork during our sitting netball session was truly inspiring! It was great to see these students work together and challenge each other throughout some seriously close games!
The next day, I headed to John Henry Newman Primary Academy for another Games2Inspire event. The day also began with an assembly followed by inclusive sports sessions with students from Years 2 through 5, and half of Year 6. The remaining students were transitioning to their senior school, but those present participated enthusiastically! Throughout the day, the students showed genuine excitement about learning each inclusive sports game and it was a delight to visit the school.
A particularly special moment for me was at the end of the day when students recalled the key message from my assembly: “I can’t do it… yet!” This mantra encapsulates the growth mindset I aim to instill in all my school visits.
Special thanks to Molly Baldwin, our point of contact at St. Christopher’s and Tom Linden, our point of contact for John Henry Newman who ensured the days ran smoothly.
Both Games2Inspire events were a great start to a busy week in the Power2Inspire Summer calendar, and I look forward to being back at these schools in the future!
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.