Volunteers come together for CBC PowerHouseGames
A Big Return
It was wonderful to return to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus (CBC) – at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge – for our second PowerHouseGames there. And it was so much bigger: we had at least 72 participants with carers joining in! A truly joyful morning was had.
Together From Across The Campus
Twenty three volunteers from CBC, from a real range of companies and organisations all over the campus, were joined by four groups – from Gretton School and Churchill School, both special needs schools, from Rowan, a local adult disability group, and Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology, the most local state school, as the adjoin the campus.
Once organised into 12 teams of 6 – one from each group in each team (two from CBC) – and given a t-shirt, the teams were shown the games. Boccia, sitting netball and goalball are three of our stalwarts. Throwing games, table cricket and table curling we use when needs demand.
Taking Advantage of the Tents
They do look a bit like teepees – set up for the extremely well attended Cambridge Wellness Festival, the day before, we made sure bad weather wouldn’t stop us, with two tabletop games and a throwing station that could have used the cover if necessary.
This was the very first time we have tried table curling and it proved popular, especially with the older less mobile adults. Table cricket always has its champions and requires no little skill to play well. We split the throwing into two: a foam javelin throw, and a bean bag throw to a target. Foam javelins are extremely difficult to throw well so lots of hilarity ensued.
New Experiences
The group from CAST loved it, commenting how wonderfully inclusive it was. This was Gretton’s second PHG and Jack Lee, their teacher, is clamouring for more opportunities. Churchill came all the way from Haverhill and Kirsty Webb was magnanimous in allowing Dani Russo to come in her stead as she wants all the teachers in her school to experience the games!
It was Rowan’s first visit, and we are keen to include adult groups of disabled people at our PHGs. I was moved when I heard one carer describe how valuable an outing like this is to some who cannot get out of their homes without support. Playing with youngsters in a safe and fun environment brought smiles to their faces, only matched when they realised they could take home their t-shirt!
Thank you
A big thank you to Richard Westcott, who has championed these games on the campus, for Simon Day for supporting him, and for his photos, Caiya Griffith for her enthusiasm and to Ed Watson, interim MD of CBC, for stepping in at the last moment to hand out medals.
It was a great success and we are keen to build on it next year. Thank you CBC and all participants.
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 reproduced with kind permission from Chris Fell Photos.
A summer term of Games2Inspire
June and July are our busiest months of the year – it’s hard enough for me to keep up with so many brilliant events, let alone write about them! I have managed to blog about our visits to St Mary and St John’s, Oxford, St John Fisher, Oxford and St Faith’s, Cambridge which are linked below but we need to acknowledge the wonderful Games2Inspire days at The Perse in Cambridge, Cecil Road in Kent, and King’s Ely Prep School.
This was the eighth Games2Inspire with The Perse (one was online during Covid) – one of biggest local supporters. The events get better and better. Supported by our wonderful trustee-volunteer, Stephen Peak, who supervised new age kurling, we had six sports and an inclusive kilometre along with the assembly to open proceedings, to fill the eight lesson day.
As ever I was supervising sitting netball, which proved more competitive and tiring than most of the boys expected. The Y8s raised an amazing £2,110 (including gift aid) through sponsorship for the inclusive kilometre and 108 challenge.
My visit to Cecil Road in Gravesend, Kent, came from a prize awarded by Active Kent. They had met us at the Christ Church University PowerHouseGames in 2024 and decided an inclusive sports day was a fitting prize for the school who encouraged the most activity in play time through a term. The sports leaders at Cecil Road Primary School were outstanding in encouraging their classmates and juniors to play organised games, so were worthy winners.
I gave a talk in assembly and held workshops through the day captured beautifully by videographer, Richard Mott.
Amazingly it was our 11th Games2Inspire at King’s Ely Prep School. Right at the end of term, it makes for an ideal fun morning for the children, and we managed to get the games in before the searing heat arrived at noon. Based in front of the school we had eight activities on the go; all led from within their teams by 90 Y7s!
With 32 teams comprising Y3s and 4s (with their Y7 leaders) there was a little confusion to start with, but once that was sorted, the children were soon getting into boccia, sitting volleyball, goalball and sitting netball to name just a few.
A big thank you to Andrew Marshall for championing our partnership and to Amanda Kippax for organising things on the day.
Adding in the other Games2Inspire this term we have delivered inclusive sport to 837 children, proving that it is possible that no one need be left on the bench.
I am always bowled over by the enthusiasm of the pupils, whether from state or independent school to learn through play; their desire to help and support; and their passionate determination to have fun!
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.
Volunteers take the lead at Samworth Brothers PowerHouseGames
At Power2Inspire we love our volunteers SO much!
We first met Rob Scott at our Leicester Tigers’ PowerHouseGames in 2024 and he was so blown away by the experience, he volunteered with his daughter Rose at both the Milton Park SuperSensory Inclusive Kilometre and Burwash Apple Day.
He returned with his Samworth Brothers’ colleagues to our fourth Tigers’ games at the Matteoli Woods Welford Road stadium. And we hatched a plan.
Small crew having big fun!
Tasked with organising a company day, he proposed a PowerHouseGames. Numbers were down on what we originally thought but never have such a small crew enjoyed a PowerHouseGames more. Held at the Soar Valley Netball Centre four teams of five and six played boccia, sitting volleyball, kwik cricket, goalball and walking football, with a blindfolded football penalty competition to finish.
Rule Number 1 at Power2Inspire was truly observed: everyone had fun!
The volleyball and boccia were very competitive, particularly the boccia.
A chaotic, hilarious riot of fun!
Kwik cricket was a chaotic, hilarious riot of fun. We joined the burgundy team with the red team and the creams and yellows to have two bigger teams. There were spectacular attempted catches, shocking cheating, and batters trying to bat without a bat! Brilliant fun.
Thank you
Thank you to Rob and Rachel. And to all those who helped with a raffle to raise much-needed cash for Power2Inspire.
I know the medals and certificates from this year will become precious in years to come as those that attended the first Samworth Brothers’ PowerHouseGames will be able to say. “I was there!”
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 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.