Brand new schools join Lucy Cavendish College for 2023 PowerHouseGames
What a difference PowerHouseGames make in so many ways!
“The positive difference in all the students from the beginning of the games to the end, was so marked,”
enthused Keith Dawes, head of pastoral care at Littlegarth School. His school joined Duxford Primary and Churchill Special Free School at the second Lucy Cavendish College PowerHouseGames on Wednesday 18th January.
Lucy Cavendish brought a mix of students and staff and all had fun, though Jane Greatorex, senior tutor, admitted the sitting volleyball was surprisingly tiring!
The College sees the half day inclusive session of different inclusive games as vital to bring balance to their students’ lives and to aid their mental welfare. Getting the students out of their rooms and away from their intense study is as vital as having a glimpse of ‘normality’ for others, and how they cope with the pressures of everyday life.
Kirsty Webb, teacher at Churchill School, said,
“Thank you so much for having us. The students had the best time and couldn’t wait to share their day when we got back. They all had a brilliant time and it really exceeded their expectations… in a great way!”
Judging by the cheers, laughter, thumbs up and smiles from these first-timers, they will be back for more. Walking football was particularly popular, but so was new age kurling and sitting netball. Goalball challenges all participants as few are comfortable being blindfolded, and yet there are many champions of this exciting Paralympic sport.
Maria Dias, the Welfare and Wellbeing Advisor and Bye Fellow at Lucy Cavendish said,
“Thank YOU for a second fantastic Games! It was an absolute pleasure to be able to join you this time round and see the Games magic at work first hand!”
The College students have been tasked with fundraising in each of their sports clubs for Power2Inspire with the added incentive that the College will match some of the funds they raise. I do so hope one of the clubs chooses to make and sell pancakes – my favourite idea for fundraising!
Here is what a couple of the Lucy Cavendish students had to say about the day. First Luke:
“I decided to take part in this year’s PowerHouseGames because it’s so important to have young people, staff, and students from many different backgrounds coming together in an inclusive sport environment, getting out there, making new friends, and also being active”
and Ell:
“I have come along today to help out at the PowerHouseGames with other Lucy Cavendish staff and students because inclusivity is one of the College’s core values, and to see that being implemented in sports is something really important. It has been a really rewarding day as we got to try new sports with students of all different abilities”
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.
With special thanks to Paul Sanwell of OP Photography for his fantastic photography on the day. All photos used with permission
The Perse PowerHouseGames 2022
The Perse PowerHouseGames 2022
PowerHouseGames at the Perse just gets better every year!
This was the fourth full PowerHouseGames day at the Perse, as I do not count the virtual games in Covid. The way it has developed has continually improved it – to the point that Emma Kenzie, geography teacher and Charities Coordinator, has taken it to near perfection. But we are not resting on our laurels – we look to improve every year.
The day focuses on Year 8. They receive an assembly on Overcoming Barriers, and then five sessions of inclusive sports and an inclusive kilometre. The students pair up and both complete the kilometre in turn, either blindfolded or guiding their partner. The inclusive sports are usually boccia, new age kurling, goalball, sitting volleyball and sitting netball, all different examples as to how disabled people can play sports.
I was thrilled that Jennifer Crompton, the High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and her husband, John, an Old Persean, were able to join us for the first round of activities.
Emma (possibly ambitiously) invited the students to ask any question they liked when they came through Sitting Netball, the game I was supervising. One young bright spark challenged me to choose in regard to pizzas – pineapple, yes or no? I said yes, and was shocked how many of the group physically recoiled!! Fun question and intriguing responses. I was also surprised that most of the students admitted that they had not previously met a disabled person – another benefit of these days, as they learn more about difference.
It was lovely to get back to normality and witness the value of learning about inclusion, disability, fun sports and teamwork. And the partnership with the Perse is so valuable to us as the students raised nearly £1,200 from the sponsored Inclusive Kilometre – thank you! And thank you to the brilliant sixth form helpers who helped put on a fantastic PowerHouseGames at the Perse!
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.
Hoohaah 10k at Ickworth for Power2Inspire
Barr Ellison Hoohaah Ickworth 10kSunday 22nd May 2022
A staggering 368 runners and their families flocked to Ickworth 10k to bask in the sunshine and explore the outstanding grounds. I do not know how Hannah Hodgson does it! It was the perfect setting – a beautiful sunny Sunday morning, stunning location and another wonderful group of runners. All fundraising for Power2Inspire!
We would like to thank everyone – fundraising opportunities like this, make the world of difference to the people we work with. It enables us to talk to thousands of young people in schools across the country, run inclusive sports events and raise awareness to make sure inclusion is at the top of the agenda.
It also helps supports wonderful heritage venues, such as National Trust’s Ickworth. We were pleased to hear so many families pledging to return to explore the house further.
You might guess that I enjoyed being the commentator! At least my hat proved a hit.
The next Hoohaah 10k is on Sunday 12th June at Shuttleworth. There are a few tickets available for runners who turn up on the day. You can also come along and cheer or get in touch if you would like to help marshall. You can find out all the details on the hoohaah website here.
Thank you to Hannah and her Hoohaah team; to Active Training World for sorting the timing and the commentator’s list; to Barr Ellison to sponsoring the series; the National Trust for sharing this special location; and above all to the runners for fundraising for Power2Inspire!
We’ve had a busy month. Not only have I been on the microphone at the Hoohaah 10k; we hosted Games2Inspire at Balgowan Primary School where a Year 4 wheelchair user shared his joy of being able join in; and we received feedback from a family at our Super Sensory 1K who said that they were able to play together…at last!
Inspired? Then Get Involved!
If you would like to support us in our mission to “embed inclusive sport in the sporting, education and community landscapes” then we would love to hear from you.
We’re always looking for opportunities to collaborate with new venues and corporate sponsors. Get in touch to find out more.
Click the button here to find out more.
With special thanks to Active Training World for their fantastic photography. All photos used with permission
Hoohaah 10ks at Thetford and Childerley for Power2Inspire
It has been an absolute joy to partner hoohaah (run by Hannah Hodgson), as their charity partner for their 2022 10k running programme. Sponsored by Barr Ellison, solicitors, hoohaah are holding four 10k runs around the region in wonderful locations. Thank you Hannah!
My first foray was in the forest – on Sunday 27th March – Thetford Forest to be precise, on trails through the woods. It had been an unseasonably warm Saturday, so the runners were delighted to wake up to cloud cover. As a spectator I was very glad for the warm coffee! Set in a clearing the start/finish was all so professional, with arch, registration tent and a sound system for the warm-up.
After a meeting for the marshals, and the rather-too-energetic-for-me warm-up! Hannah invited me to address the assembled runners, approximately 330 of them, explaining our vision of no one being left on the bench. The donations made on entry will make a huge difference allowing us to put on such events as the SuperSensory1K at Histon, and push for a society where everyone can enjoy inclusive sport together.
I was delighted to be asked to be the commentator, my dream job when I was little. It was made easier by the tablet that records the runners as they pass a chip-reader, cleverly placed 100m from the finish. That means I was able to congratulate them as they achieve the significant goal of running 10k!
The second 10k in this Barr Ellison series was closer to home at Childerley Estate, north-west of Cambridge. In glorious, if cool, sunshine, the runners spoke of the beautiful estate, but Hannah warned them of the dangers of rabbit holes.
As a seasoned spectator and commentator – I had done one! – it was easier to address the 350 runners and come up with more descriptions of the efforts the runners had made to complete the 10k. Also, it was lovely to catch up with Jocelyn Poulton, now a partner in Childerley Estates.
The joy, camaraderie and love of outdoors makes these events welcoming, fun and very good for all participants, supporters and volunteers. I heartily recommend signing up for the two remaining 10ks by clicking the button here.
- The hoohaah Barr Ellison 10k at Ickworth – 22nd May
- The hoohaah Barr Ellison 10k at Shuttleworth – 12th June
And remember your donation on entry helps us make sport inclusive.
Inspired? Then Get Involved!
If you would like to support us in our mission to “embed inclusive sport in the sporting, education and community landscapes” then we would love to hear from you. We are always looking out for people willing to fundraise for Power2Inspire through their own inspiring means. Or, you could volunteer at one of our events, or you could give to the ongoing work of Power2Inspire. Click the button here to find out more.
Celebrating Diversity
Our Founder and Chief Ambassador, John Willis, shares how he celebrates diversity within the charity’s work.
At Power2Inspire, we celebrate diversity by hosting inclusive and adaptive sports games that work for everybody. I was born without fully formed arms and legs, and when I was young, I was left on the bench. I would’ve loved to have been involved with accessible sports and being unable to was incredibly frustrating. That’s why I’ve made it our mission that no-one else has to experience this.
Our ultimate goal, first and foremost, is not to compete with extreme elite level sports games, but to have fun. Often, I believe the elite sports we see on television distorts our view of what sport is really about – and for us it isn’t money or competition, it’s fun and the feeling of being included.
I believe the most important factor to celebrating diversity is ensuring everyone can be involved. We do this by adapting rules so that the sports are truly inclusive. We once worked with a young girl in a year three class who used a wheelchair and had profound disabilities. She desperately wanted to be involved with sitting netball like the rest of her class, but was apprehensive as to how she could. In order to ensure everyone was included, we placed an exclusion zone around her meaning that only she could catch the ball, making it safer and allowing her to join in with the fun. She went on to enjoy the game, and score the winning goal – there wasn’t a dry eye in the house! My view is, if it’s not working for someone – simply change the rules so that it does.
We adapt all of our events so that no-one is left out. We recently held our Festival of Inclusive Golf which plays under Texas scramble rules. These rules lend themselves to inclusion and collaboration, meaning that everyone is included and contributes to the team’s score, no matter their ability. Similarly, our Festival of Inclusive Tennis uses smaller rackets and sponge balls if needed, to ensure everyone gets the chance to play.
We even adapt our Super Sensory 1km route, not only to make it accessible for all, but to make it fun and interesting. By introducing sight, smell, touch, taste and hearing stations we ensure there is something for everyone, and it always promises a fun, family day out.
As a charity we are constantly trying to find ways to make sports more accessible but still enjoyable and fun. It’s extremely important that everyone is afforded to opportunity to enjoy sport together – no one should be left on the bench like I was.
If you would like to help us to continue delivering sports events for the community, designed to be accessible for everyone, we’d love you to be involved by volunteering, sponsoring your own event or donating to help us raise vital funds.
Inspired? Then Get Involved!
If you would like to support us in our mission to “embed inclusive sport in the sporting, education and community landscapes” then we would love to hear from you.
We’re always looking for opportunities to collaborate with new venues and corporate sponsors. Get in touch to find out more.
Likewise, if you would be willing to help us raise funds through a sponsored event, do get in touch. We’ve loads of ideas if you need inspiration!
Click the button here to find out more.
John Willis
Founder & Chief Ambassador, Power2Inspire