A hot summer PowerHouseGames at Granta Park
We returned to Granta Park on a hot summer’s day for our second games. This was arranged with the help of Bidwells, the managers of Granta Park, the home of 30 companies and 3,700 employees.
As last year, this was a competitive, corporate edition of our PowerHouseGames. Six teams attended: Unique, Quality Masters and Commercial Wizards from Illumina, and teams from Bidwells, Nuffield and Vernalis. Each team played every other team in two inclusive games – goalball and sitting volleyball. The two best teams then played a game of boccia, the most inclusive sport in the world. It was a tense and exciting decider.
Goalball is played in the Paralympics by blind athletes who can throw the ball at up to 60 m.p.h. Our version is somewhat gentler with three of the team sitting in front of a ‘goal’ made by a line of cones, and the remainder giving guidance to those in front. Our version offers the opportunity to test communication skills, trust your fellow employees, and practise your listening skills.
We had a true expert in our midst when it came to sitting volleyball: Rob Richardson, of Bidwells, was the captain of the GB sitting volleyball team! Forcing everyone to keep their ‘butt cheeks’ on the floor, levels the playing field, so it is ideal for these inclusive games, allowing all shapes and sizes to participate. The claps, cheers and laughter testified to this.
Nuffield and Bidwells pulled clear of the others in both sessions and faced each other in the boccia play-off. On rough grass and with no one having played the game before, it came down to the bounce of a ball and Nuffield edged it. Everyone received a medal and a certificate, and Nuffield took the cup and individual trophies.
Pizza and beer in the Clubhouse finished a very enjoyable early evening with Christine Cook of Illumina summing it up perfectly and referring to Power2Inspire’s Rule No. 1:
“It was fun!”
Not only does the financial support of these games allow us to host our PowerHouseGames at the University Sports Centre with SEND schools attending, but it showcases our games to potential volunteers. I am delighted to say a few participants indicated a keenness to volunteer! Companies, please note – a great way for your staff to enjoy using their charity days.
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 are from the 2024 event and used with permission
1st Unity Trust PowerHouseGames in Suffolk
Churchill Special School have been champions of Power2Inspire and PowerHouseGames for a few years now. When Kirsty Webb suggested we hold a PowerHouseGames for schools across the Trust (Churchill are a part of the Unity Trust schools), we were delighted. She then brought in Active Suffolk, who have been wonderfully encouraging.
Coming together for inclusive fun
Ross Myhill of Thomas Gainsborough School (TGS), Sudbury, was a marvellous host – providing the excellent sports hall, ideal for our games and space for snacks and a break. County High School, Bury St Edmunds, joined the party, with sports leaders from TGS and those with additional needs and a specially selected group from Churchill. In the end we had 10 teams of 5.
We played boccia, sitting volleyball, new age kurling, walking football, and goalball. All games had their champions, proving we have a nice range. We finished proceedings with a popular game of sitting netball.
Gauging the emotional temperature
Active Suffolk were keen to capture comments, feelings and any movement in emotion through the morning. We deployed the bean bag ‘thermometer’ – asking each pupil to place a bean bag on a smiley face depicting happy to sad – both before and after the games. The results are in! We were delighted to see so many people leaving the PowerHouseGames feeling very happy. Now, without ‘spinning’ the outcome, it was suggested to us that those who left suddenly feeling ‘very sad’ might have confused their genuine sadness that the event was over!
Thank you
A huge thank you to our brilliant volunteers, to Thomas Gainsborough School for hosting, to all the schools that came along and to the wonderful students who all participated so enthusiastically. We can’t wait for next time…
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.
Oxford University PowerHouseGames 2025
Everyone involved
What a joy it was to be back in Oxford for our second PowerHouseGames in the city and to celebrate with the SDG Impact Lab. It was Oliver Cook’s last event with the Lab, as he moves on to fresh employment. Ollie has left a great legacy – the sports leadership programme has been a huge success.
Leading the leaders
Working with two sets of three state schools with students facing typical inner city challenges, Oxford University students help them with skills, leadership and compassion, or as Ollie puts it ‘hand, head, heart’.
The PowerHouseGames created the opportunity to bring all six schools together and by including John Watson, a special school, there was a real chance to practise all three aspects: skill in the games, leadership to include all in their team, and compassion to engage the SEND students. With the excellent support of the Oxford students, all the programme students rose to the challenge.
Always adapting to include everyone!
Having 8 in each team meant a tweak to the way we play the games. For new age kurling and boccia we split the stations in two, so there were two matches of each being played, to occupy more participants. Sitting volleyball was moved to the nearby ‘dojo’ room, ideal with its soft floor – diving around was even more fun! Touch rugby, sitting netball and goalball completed the set.
Thank you!
A big thank you to the schools: Greyfriars Catholic School, Oxford Spires School, Oxford Academy, Swan School, Cherwell School and Cheney School. And to the students, fabulously organised by Dan and Naomi, you are wonderful ambassadors for the programme and Oxford University.
Building for the future
The support of Alex Betts, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (External Engagement, Sport, and Community) at the University is pivotal to the success of the PowerHouseGames and I hope the beginning of a long partnership.
We really want to develop our engagement within Oxford, the university, city and environs, and create a hub that will endure and bring inclusive sport to many generations of students.
And finally...
Both Andrew Bailey and Edith Cameron took stunning photos, bringing out the fun and joy of the morning as you have seen in this post. Thank you!
And a huge congrats and good luck to Ollie – we look forward to working with you in your new capacity!
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.
A PowerHouseGames First at Bottisham Village College
Chris Darling, PE teacher from Bottisham Village College (about 10 miles east of Cambridge) was so excited by what he saw at the Hawks Ospreys PowerHouseGames in March he was determined to bring a version to his school. And he did!
Real commitment to the cause
On a rather damp Wednesday he gathered his sports leaders and some Y7s and Y8s to form the core of 10 teams. We invited Castle Special School – Claire Laidler was adamant:
“We wouldn’t miss these Games for anything!”
and Chris went and collected the Sawston Village College students as they had transport issues!
And the students showed commitment too: it was damp when Stephen Peak and I arrived – thank you Stephen for volunteering again! – and drizzled a little, but the children were intent on having fun.
Adapting the games to match the environment
We adapted the games as we were outside on an artificial pitch, not ideal for sitting down on wet grass. Sitting volleyball was on chairs with a raised net; and goalball players used flat discs for one knee to take up the “Spiderman” pose. Kwik cricket and boccia carried on as normal, and football became blindfold slalom dribbling and shooting.
The Bottisham sports leaders were outstanding – really engaging with the students in their team with challenges whether from Castle or Sawston. A couple of the visitors found it too much and stepped away from the games but, as their teachers said, it was wonderful they even came, represented their school and saw life outside of their usual bubble.
Let's go again
A grand day and our first of this type. All the teachers were very keen to repeat so we need to find the funding (to include transport) to ensure we can do so next year. If you know anyone that could help please do get in touch below.
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 Faith's Games2Inspire 2025
We’ve run Games2Inspire at St Faith’s five times now, and each visit feels more familiar. There’s a rhythm to the day, but it never feels the same. This time, we started with an assembly for a group of Year 6, 7 and 8 pupils. They were curious, respectful and seemed to understand what we were trying to do: learning the growth mindset in practical situations.
After the talk, we spent the morning teaching them five games: boccia, new age kurling, sitting volleyball, sitting netball and goalball. Boccia and goalball took place outside while the rest were indoors. They picked everything up quickly and were ready for the afternoon’s challenge: the arrival of 80 Year 5s. Once we explained the purpose behind the games – to include everyone, to ensure “No one left on the bench!” – they weren’t just taking part, they were ready to lead, to ensure everyone felt welcome and included.
After training we had a boccia tournament. Ten teams, five games going on at once, and a lot of excitement. Tony Collett, who has supported us for a long time, helped with scoring. At first it felt light-hearted, but once they realised there was a trophy on the table, the energy changed. The all-girl team that called themselves “PEE” won. Watching the three girls lift the trophy with proper pride was a great way to finish the session.
St Faith’s has been a great supporter of Power2Inspire for a number of years now. We’re especially grateful to Charmaine Switsur and Nick Thompson for their continued personal support on the day and for the generous donation the school gave us last year, organised by Mike Critchley. This support helps us put on inclusive sports days at Cambridge University, that brings special needs schools to play with students from independent and state schools.
St. Faith’s Sports Day 2025
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.