Hockley Primary School PowerHouseGames 2022
I do not know who was more shocked, the lovely teacher Jane Stone or I, when we realised it was over five years since I had visited this “Outstanding” primary school in Essex. Jane was so keen that I deliver assemblies to all ages in the school and give as many of the pupils as possible a chance to play our inclusive games that we alighted on a two-day format. And it worked really well!
On Monday 21st February Patrick Gosling (our champion volunteer) and I delivered our Games2Inspire to the three classes of the combined year group Years 5/6. The pupils played New Age Kurling, Sitting Volleyball, Sitting Netball, and Goalball in hour long sessions. This followed an assembly for Years 3-6, which included some tough questions, such as
“What has been your greatest achievement to-date?”
I suggested setting up Power2Inspire, but only so long as it survives me and carries on bringing inspiration, learning and fun through play!
I loved visiting the early years/reception groups in their own classrooms separately on Monday and Tuesday. When I suggested my daughter’s forecast that I should be a duck when I grew up had come true, due to my artificial feet imitating duck feet, they disagreed. They thought I was more like a penguin!
On the Tuesday Patrick and I had the Year 3/4s and an assembly to the Year 1/2s. The same games were played with the same joyful enthusiasm. A straw poll at the end of each session gave a resounding win for sitting volleyball as the favourite, though every activity had its champions. Jacob Bowen, the outside PE provider, joined us and declared his favourite was New Age Kurling – ideal for after-school clubs – and Sitting Netball, the game I claim to have invented, as it could occupy a lot of children inside in wet weather safely.
It was such a success we are hatching a plan to repeat in the summer along with a SEN school to truly embed the lesson that, “No one be left on the bench!”
Inspired? Then Get Involved!
If you are interested in hosting a PowerHouseGames in your school / college / company / community group then we would love to hear from you. As you have read we have even found a way to make our PowerHouseGames a success in lockdown so don’t hesitate to get in touch and we can help you plan your very own PowerHouseGames!!
Click the button here to find out more.
Festival of Inclusive Cricket 2021
On Saturday 4th December, with the Ashes series fast approaching in Australia, Power2Inspire ran their first Festival of Inclusive Indoor Cricket at Cambridge University Sports Centre. It was amazing to see so many people having fun and playing cricket, in one form or another, regardless of ability – bringing smiles and laughter from all of those who attended, and adding more joy to the Christmas spirit that was beginning to kick in.
As always with our festivals, the aim is inclusion through sport. Our mission is to embed inclusive sport in the community, bringing people together to play, regardless of age, gender, faith, sexual orientation, or ability – and we have a vision that “no one is left on the bench”. The event saw us welcome 50 people to enjoy various versions of inclusive cricket, and seeing these groups, with its range of abilities and backgrounds, playing together showcased our mission in action.
One of our newest trustees, Richard Hill MBE, was our cricketing expert on the day, and he ran the table cricket and clock cricket games. Matt Morley and James Williams from Cambridgeshire County Cricket, who we thank for their support before and at the event, ran Kwik Cricket and made sure those interested in more cricket after the event had the contacts to try inclusive cricket clubs in the area. There were also some cricket skills games running during the 10am – 1pm time slot (many of the participants stayed for the full three hours!) – a truly action-packed morning of cricket!
Trustee Richard Hill MBE, our cricketing expert for the day!
Our founder John Willis, getting very competitive with Table Cricket!
Power2Inspire’s No.1 Rule is “To have FUN!” – and that was certainly the case. Because of this we have already committed to host the winter festival in 2022, alongside interest in a summer festival as well! So, there are no excuses not to be involved next year!
As a final note, we would like to extend a massive thank you to the ECB for their grant to run the event, and to Cambridgeshire County Cricket for their support.
“It was great to support the Power2Inspire Festival of Inclusive Cricket this morning.”
Cambridgeshire County Cricket.
“Just to say many thanks for the session on Saturday. My son (and I) really enjoyed it, and we look forward to joining other Power2Inspire events in future.”
Parent of Festival attendee.
If you’re now inspired for Inclusive Sport then do join us at our next big event:
No event found!
Hoohaah and Power2Inspire 2022
Power2Inspire is delighted to announce its partnership with hoohaah as the official chosen charity for 2022.
hoohaah was set up by Hannah Hodgson and Alison Cronk in 2012 – their first event ‘The Wimpole 10k hoohaah’ in May of that year was a tremendous success and raised a significant sum for the East Anglia Air Ambulance. Since that date hoohaah has added many new venues to their portfolio, raising over £100k for local charities in that time. Power2Inspire are delighted to be the chosen charity partner for 2022.
Power2Inspire was set up by John Willis, who was born without fully formed arms or legs, to encourage more inclusion through sport. As a youngster he was left on the sidelines when it came to sport, so he is determined that “No one be left on the bench!” regardless of age, gender, race, faith or disability. He says:
“We are delighted to be partnering with hoohaah events and to be working with Hannah. This is a great opportunity to support the charity either through running in beautiful and unique settings, or through volunteering as marshals at the events. We are also hoping to run one of our iconic Super Sensory 1km at one of the hoohaah events in 2022.This partnership allows people the chance to be involved and support the charity in several ways, meaning “No one is left on the bench!”
The race list for 2022 is as follows:
You can register for races by clicking the button here and anyone interested in marshalling should contact Hannah directly at info@justhappen.co.uk for more details.
Contact details and Notes to editors
John Willis can be contacted here
Facebook: facebook.com/Power2InspireUK
Twitter: @Power2InspireUK
- John Willis won the “Lifetime Achievement Award” at the “Cambridge News Pride of Cambridge Community Awards 2014 – http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/SLIDESHOW-Winners-Pride-Cambridge-Community/story-23026321-detail/story.html
- Link to 2021 SuperSensory1Km: https://www.power2inspire.org.uk/super-sensory-1k-2021/
- Link to 2019 SuperSensory 1km (including video): https://www.power2inspire.org.uk/super-sensory-1k-2019/
Caius College PowerHouseGames 2021
When Sophie Barnett got in touch to help arrange a second Gonville & Caius PowerHouseGames following one organised by the now graduated Alex Parton and Luke Cavanaugh, I was absolutely thrilled. It showed there was a real appetite for these games – Sophie had attended one in her first year (pre-pandemic) and was keen to repeat the experience, “because it was such fun!”
Quilters Junior School were very keen to attend following their Paralympic Week back in September, so came with a wonderful set of Year 5s. King’s Ely brought their Year 8s and Melbourn Village College their additional needs students. Nicky Patel had said that her Melbourn students were a little anxious when told they would be in separate teams – teams of five in separate colourful t-shirts – but that in the end the event was so good for them, and the other team members had made them so welcome that they had really enjoyed it.
There was a delightful start as the younger team members, mostly Quilters, advocated for the Melbourn students to join their team, holding out their t-shirt as a trophy!
The games this time were boccia, goalball, walking football, sitting volleyball, sitting netball and new age kurling. Each had its champions, raucous cheers, and squeals, as the teams realised they could be competitive. With Alex keeping us to time and Dan snapping away – love the photos, Dan! – the morning ran like clockwork.
But it relies so heavily on our volunteers, so a big thank you to:
- Robert Houston who came to observe how his trust’s funding was being used and ended up playing in a bright pink top!
- Mark Slater for overseeing new age kurling and sitting volleyball as well as setting and tidying up.
- Jeremy Macklin, our P2I chair, for being so enthusiastic in his supervision of sitting netball.
- Debbie Macklin for becoming a lime green player and helping to gel her team.
- Patrick Gosling, such a stalwart of volunteering, for being such a safe pair of hands with goalball.
- And newcomer Philip Sleightholme for sorting all the refreshments and joining in as a red team player with wonderful enthusiasm.
Students from Melbourn Village College
With the schools bringing different numbers as absences took effect at the last minute, we also had three teachers play. Mike Wade, head at Quilters, joined the grey team, whom I guess he nicknamed “the hammers” after his beloved West Ham; his colleague Mrs Porteous was very enthusiastic; and Jo from King’s Ely let his inner child express its joy!
Thanks to the other teachers, particularly the crew from Melbourn, led by Nicky Patel. Their students have sent some lovely notes, but more importantly want to come again!
All the participants took home their t-shirt and a certificate and the additional needs students a medal too. But most of all everyone took away happy memories complete with laughter and smiles. You can read the Caius blog on the event by clicking the image here and check out what some of the Caius students thought of the event below:
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 Peter's Billericay PowerHouseGames 2021
It was a joy to return to St Peter’s Catholic Primary School. This was a ‘single school’ PowerHouseGames, with a whole school assembly to set the scene, talk about my life and how I had overcome the various barriers I had faced, and why we teach inclusive sport.
I was impressed the Year 6s remembered so much from my previous visit in February 2020, in the pre-Covid world! But it was a question from a Year 4 pupil that caught the eye:
“Do you enjoy being disabled?”
You will have to book a games with an assembly to hear the answer!
We played four games in the hall – new age kurling, sitting volleyball, sitting netball and goalball – with great help from each of the two class teachers and teaching assistants. Across the four year groups each of these four games had their champions and were equally liked.
Mrs Bradbury who arranged the visit said:
“Thank you so much for your visit – the children got so much out of it and are still talking about the activities they did with you.”
And head teacher Mrs Parker described the day as truly inspirational.
I look forward to returning again.
Inspired? Then Get Involved!
If you are interested in hosting a PowerHouseGames in your school / college / company / community group then we would love to hear from you. As you have read we have even found a way to make our PowerHouseGames a success in lockdown so don’t hesitate to get in touch and we can help you plan your very own PowerHouseGames!!
Click the button here to find out more.