Fitzwilliam College PowerHouseGames 2023
A joyful PowerHouseGames!
Thanks to the Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge students for turning out in their droves – especially as a 9:00 am start could be seen by some as very early indeed. These 24 were joined by newcomers, Bottisham Village College, 5 volunteers from Illumina and a second appearance from Ivel Valley Special School, from Biggleswade.
We re-jigged the format to have 10 teams of five playing five games each: goalball, walking football, kwik cricket, boccia and new age kurling. It was a joy to see the teams develop through the morning. As one student said:
“It was lovely to see our two school pupils come out of their shell and grow in confidence.”
Thanks to Patrick Gosling and David Ellis for volunteering again – Patrick was particularly enthusiastic with the whistle as he controlled the timing of the rotation. Also it was lovely that Stephen Spencer, Tony Collett and Sylvia Rhodes popped in to observe what the fuss was all about and went away saying they would proselytise for us!
Chris Darling of Bottisham VC, brought a mix of pupils, some with additional needs and said:
“It was a fabulous event and, for the students that we had taking part, it was perfect. All of the students had a fantastic time and it was clear by their actions that they were gripped and could have continued for much longer – which is incredible.”
Fitzwilliam College chaplain, Graham Stevenson, was one of the participants:
“It was a great joy and enormous fun to join in with the Powerhouse Games as a volunteer and to be a part of inclusive sport in action. The games were perfectly designed to involve, entertain and engage everyone. We all left having been inspired, having made new friends and with big smiles on our faces. Thank you, John and the team at Power2Inspire, for showing us how great inclusive sport is.”
Corporate partners are vital to us as they allow us to create these fun events. Thank you to illumina for supporting this event and sending volunteers to help lead the teams. If your company would like to get involved, help the community, and provide worthwhile volunteering for your employees, please get in touch.
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.
St Peters Billericay Games2Inspire 2023
It was a joy to return to St Peter’s Catholic Primary School in Billericay. The last visit had been in November 2021, so two years had passed.
Amazingly the Yr 5s and 6s remembered what my hook was for and other parts of my assembly talk. The younger ones – from Reception through Y4 – were intrigued, curious and particularly enthusiastic about the video when I was awarded the ITV Anglia West award for Regional Fundraiser of the Year as part of the Pride of Britain awards.
Sarah Bradbury, head of PE, was pleased, with the assembly, with the inclusive sports workshops with each of Ys 3 through to 6, and with the engagement of all the pupils throughout the day. It was great to see headteacher, Katherine Parker, who loves the learning from the day – seeing someone who has overcome barriers, how to be inclusive, learning about teamwork, communication (goalball is particularly good for this), and how sport can be fun.
We played sitting volleyball, sitting netball, goalball and new age kurling, each of which had its champions. I was thrilled to see the children getting very into sitting netball – the game I claim to have invented – as it uses lots of energy, especially through the core muscles. However, I did have to ‘threaten’ to fetch my (imaginary) glue-gun from the car, as so many, mostly boys, could not keep their bottoms touching the floor!
A quick thank you to the wonderful caretaker, Dave, who so willingly and helpfully emptied my car with all the kit, taking it into the main hall, and then reversing the effort at the end of the day.
I am very hopeful that St Peter’s spreads the word through the Trust of which they are part. And I look forward to returning next year!
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.
Cambridge University Rugby Union PowerHouseGames 2023
The weather gods were with us! On a beautiful September morning we held our sixth PowerHouseGames with Cambridge University’s Rugby Club, sponsored by our great friends, accountants, PEM. We were outdoors at the University’s athletics and hockey ground, so the sunny, dry and still conditions were vital.
Enjoying the fun were Felsted School, Impington Village College, and Castle Special School. The pupils got right into the games – more ambulant as we were outside: touch rugby, walking football, kwik cricket, goalball, sitting volleyball – with football tennis at times as the ground was still damp – and boccia.
Jamie Tucker of That’s TV attended her first PowerHouseGames to capture the fun. You can catch her report here:
We are so grateful to PEM, who have now been major partners for 6 years. Amy Hayden, CSR and Community Lead explained the value to PEM:
“We had an amazing day yet again at the PowerHouseGames 2023! We are proud to have supported this event for many years and each time we thoroughly enjoy getting stuck in with the inclusive games and leading a team of rugby players and school students. It is a fantastic and inspiring day hosted by John; we feel very lucky to be involved each year. It is a great morning out and truly such a rewarding experience.”
And Partner Nikki Loan added,
“A big thank you to John and PEM for making me feel young again, spending time team and skill-building with some enthusiastic young people.”
Adam Smith, who gasped through a broad smile that he couldn’t resist the gap offered him in his touch rugby game, and realised he wasn’t as young as he thought he was explained,
“PEM have sponsored the Powerhouse games for the past 6 events and its an excellent event to participate in, helping individuals building skills and teamwork in a fun, exciting environment. John’s enthusiasm wore off on all of us at such a well organised event. We can’t wait for next year”
Corporate partners are vital to us as they allow us to create these fun events. If your company would like to get involved, help the community, and provide worthwhile volunteering for your employees, please get in touch.
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.
Surprised at Quilters Junior School Paralympic Week
I was delighted to return to Quilters Junior School, Billericay, on the 11th- 15th September to host our Sixth Paralympic Week. It has become such a tradition that younger siblings entering Year 3 are already super excited from all they have heard from their older brothers and sisters. They cannot wait for their turn – this fills me with pride!
The format has been honed over the years and we’ve now mastered it.
We start the week with an assembly where I explain how I have overcome the obstacles placed in my way during my life, and how they too can overcome their challenges, if they ‘Never Give Up’ and learn to face them with the mantra, “I can’t do it…..yet!” and adopt the philosophy that “Practice makes Progress”. These have developed into my straplines, and its excellent to hear children chant them back to me.
Year 6, as the veterans of the games, play first. We host one class at a time in the morning and a competition in the afternoon between the classes. We play new age kurling, goalball, sitting volleyball and sitting netball and each game has their champions. The competition awards more points for all the Quilters’ values – kindness, respect, resilience, teamwork, perseverance – than for winning the individual matches.
Year 5 followed on the Tuesday, Year 3 with help from Y5 leaders on the Thursday and Year 4 with help from Y5 and 6 on the Friday. The competition is fierce but inclusive. It is remarkable how often a crucial game of kurling is won by a “non-sporty” small child, how the good behaviour of unlikely suspects can swing the result. It is a triumph for inclusive sport.
I was challenged by Mr Wade, the head teacher, to a tennis match, but as he was absent, he invited Mr Holmes to deputise for him. Unwittingly I wrecked some devilish plans by insisting this be on the Tuesday afternoon. This allowed me to do an assembly on the Thursday about my recent 108 Challenge – the 108 mile paddle down the river Thames and the nomination I had received and aired on ITV Anglia for the region’s Fundraiser of the Year. It also allowed me to invite Rosie Williams, Power2Inspire ambassador and alumna of Quilters, to attend on the Friday. She recounted her story of her determination to be a gymnast and how she became the British U12 Disabled Gymnastics Champion, in part from her exposure to Paralympic Week.
Back to the tennis: Mr Holmes just defeated me in a closely fought ‘championship’ point!
Mr Wade regrouped, after my meddling with his plans, and requested I play again on the Friday “to film it for Quilters TV” and Mr Berack was recruited for the purposes because he had been saying how good he was at tennis – an exaggeration from Mr Wade.
It was all a ruse. I was just starting to play when I was surprised – it was a complete shock! – by Sophie Wiggins of ITV Anglia, who presented me with the Fundraiser of the Year Award. Please do watch the video (linked below) which captures the surprise. I was doubly shocked as my family had sneaked on to the playground too and I hadn’t seen them. A wonderful surprise!
You can watch the moment John Willis is surprised as the winner of Pride of Britain fundraiser of the year for the Anglia region, and read about John on the ITV website, by clicking the image.
And this all happened during Quilters’ Paralympic Week! What a fabulous event!
It was a marvellous week, capped by a lovely award. I couldn’t think of a better place to receive it, especially as the Quilters students were quite so excited. The only cloud was the absence of Mr Wade, but the teachers coped admirably without him, and the students are outstanding examples of what can be achieved, with the right dedication from a fabulous teaching staff.
Thank you, Quilters, and I am already looking forward to the Seventh Paralympic Week!
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. As you can read in our Latest News we have even found a way to make our Games2Inspire a success in lockdown so don’t hesitate to get in touch and we can help you plan your very own Games2Inspire!!
Click the button here to find out more.
Fundraiser of the Year targets Power2Inspire
I met Marco Sementa at the BBC Radio Cambridgeshire Make a Difference Awards in September last year. Marco was named Fundraiser of the Year for 2022. He arranges charity football matches, collecting money for local causes. Just to prove that the Awards themselves can make a difference, Marco volunteered to raise funds for Power2Inspire. He has hosted a number of games, culminating in two games at Peterborough United’s ground, raising an amazing £500 for Power2Inspire.
When Marco heard about what we do at Power2Inspire he was inspired. He said:
“I am looking forward to supporting you and the great work you do. I think with both our visions the team up will be great.”
He is hoping to persuade his employers, RSA Insurance in Peterborough, to match-fund his donation to Power2Inspire and is keen to create his own 108 Challenge – you too can sign up! He believes passionately in the power of sport to inspire so wants to continue fundraising for us for a long time to come.
Thank you Marco and thank you BBC Radio Cambridgeshire for both Making a Difference!
Inspired? Then Get Involved!
We are SO grateful for all the fundraising that is going on with the 108 Challenge. Your donations make a MASSIVE difference to people’s lives through Power2Inspire’s vision to ensure “no one is left on the bench!” THANK YOU!
If you’d like to donate NOW to the 108 Challenge click through to JustGiving by pressing the button here: