A return to Warwick University
Securing our second PowerHouseGames at Warwick University was brilliant; hearing comments like, “This is now an annual fixture!” make me so happy.
I studied for a Masters at Warwick and through David Colliver, Paul Robbins, Kieron Carroll and Iain McKinney, we persuaded the university to take a PHG in February 2023. A year on and the students’ enthusiasm was even greater!
In addition to the students – we had about two per team – we had students from Leicester Grammar School and from Avon Park Special School. Four a side meant it was tiring, especially the sitting netball, but there were loads of smiles, clapping great shots, and laughter, ringing round the wonderful arena at the Sports and Wellness Hub.
One student reported how moved he was when one school student admitted this was his first ever school trip. Another commented that the SEN youngsters had integrated so well it was difficult to work out who was who, definitely with the t-shirts on.
Kieron Carroll, recently moved from Warwick Sport, said how important events like these are for the students to engage with the local community as they learn they are not just part of the university but part of the region.
Andrew Todd, Director of Regional Strategy and Partnerships, added that engaging with local schools allows the university and the students to showcase the facilities and the volunteering that goes on.
With this level of support alongside volunteers (we are always looking for help!) and interns, we are committed to returning next year with a corporate partner. If you are at a company, know an organisation that is seeking volunteering opportunities or wish to use your CSR engagement by getting down with the kids (sitting volleyball is floor based!), please get in touch. Every company that gets involved comes back for more!
Some delightful feedback from a parent of one of the Leicester Grammar School pupils:
“Thank you so much for selecting this particular pupil to attend the PowerHouseGames yesterday. He thoroughly enjoyed every minute and couldn’t wait to tell me all about it! He had so much fun and really enjoyed being part of something so special with such lovely people. The whole experience was fantastic for him – in fact he wanted to go back this morning! I really appreciate all the effort put into yesterday that made it such a day to remember for him.”
Mark Hyndman, Director of Sports and Active Lifestyle at Warwick Sport, said:
“Working in partnership with Power2Inspire to host the PowerHouseGames at our accessible Sports and Wellness Hub at the University of Warwick provided an opportunity for inspiring individuals from local schools, our staff networks and student community to enjoy participation in sport in an inclusive and welcoming environment.
“Based on the principle of bringing people of all abilities together through sport, the event encourages active communities throughout our local area and beyond.”
I will leave it to Sam Powell from Avon Park to wrap up:
“Bringing the less sporty children from an SEN school eliminates the ones who dominate and allows the others to enjoy it and builds their engagement. That then builds their confidence and develops other skills back in school. I have even taken some of these games back to school they are so good.”
A huge thank you to everyone who took part, and especially the students and other volunteers who gave their time to help put on such a fantastically successful inclusive sports event. Special thanks too to Jade Woodward and Georgina Pilling from Warwick Sport who helped lead the event on the day.
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.
Westerings Primary Academy Games2Inspire 2024
My trip to Westerings Primary Academy on Monday 5th February came about from a very young pupil from Hockley School pestering his teacher mum! He went on so much about my assembly, she had to persuade her head teacher to invite me in!
Mr Adam Stainsbury, the head, was thrilled that my assembly covered the two key messages for their term: resilience and determination. By the end I had the children repeating after me:
“Never give up”,
“Practice makes Progress”, and especially,
“I can’t do it…[pregnant pause]….YET!”
After the assembly we played sitting volleyball, goalball and new age kurling, in eight groups of about 30, in 30-minute sessions. A tiring but very rewarding day.
A big shout out for our three volunteers – David Ellis, Rosie Williams and her gran, Carol. David has been a stalwart of many games now, but this was only his second at a Games2Inspire. [His first was at Quilters, when I was awarded the Pride of Britain regional fundraiser of the year award, but as he (and I) was unaware of the surprise, he was packing up when it was made! I feel guilty he missed it.)
Rosie is our youngest ambassador – read all about her here. Rosie was the Under 12 British Disability Gymnastics Champion 2022, and officially joined Power2Inspire as an ambassador and volunteer.
She is so good with the children, so quietly confident, she is a wonderful role model and ambassador. Carol really embraced her volunteering, looking after the goalball, cajoling the pupils to give instructions (learning which is right and which left is a start!) and keep their blindfolds down, so they don’t cheat!
It was a pleasure to visit a new school and from the enthusiasm of the children, one to be repeated year on 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.
An Autumn of Fascinating Talks
From 7th September through 7th December I have spoken 15 times to an extraordinary range of audiences on a variety of subjects – but mostly about Power2Inspire!
I have thoroughly enjoyed each and every one. But the circumstances, audiences and questions were all so unique and fascinating I thought it might be worth telling the story of the autumn…
John speaks to students at Warwick University
There was a short one – to Cambridge Buzz, outside in the late summer sunshine on the banks of the Cam; there was an online one – Liberty Global’s ‘Empower Hour’ celebrating diversity across their companies; there was a joyful one – celebrating the success of the 108 Challenge with head teacher and paddler, Kelly Harries, of Linton Infants; and there was the respectfully challenging one – the sixth formers at Ashford School really engaged with questions such as, “Have you ever been bullied?”, and, “What is the most challenging aspect of your day?”. This latter one elicited the reply, “Having a pee!” which obviously prompted further questions from the teenagers, “How do you pee?”
That, in turn, led to a great story about a journey on a Canadian train….
John talks to students at Woldingham School
John delivers a talk online
John demonstrating driving his adapted car
My talks usually (and they are never the same) start with a potted history of my life and the challenges of disabled living in the 1960s and 1970s; moves through the gadgets I use, including my car; and culminates in why I founded Power2Inspire and why we do what we do.
I love visiting Quilters Junior School, and not just because I know them so well. They also welcome me in for four days and I am able to cover different themes on each day such as overcoming barriers, resilience and perseverance (I am pleasantly shocked how many really young pupils know that long word!). This year I was joined by former student Rosie Williams, the British U13 Disability Gymnastics Champion, who was inspired by the Quilters Paralympic Week to pursue her love of gymnastics. And it was at this assembly, held outdoors to showcase that I could play tennis, that I was surprised by Sophie Wiggins of ITV Anglia….
Read about the moment John was surprised at Quilters
St John’s College School engaged me to talk to their DT club. The first session was to hear my challenges, the second to guide their first thoughts, and next term I will be shown their designs of gadgets to aid my day. I love their creativity, quite often thinking so far outside the box, I doubt they saw one in the first place!
Aveva invited Power2Inspire to receive six wheelchairs built in a day of team-building and I was very happy to accept. It allowed me to promote our PowerHouseGames and encourage them to join as their Cambridge office is less than 400m away from our most used venue, the Cambridge University Sports Centre.
John at O3e in Cambridge, meeting with AVEVA
Inspired? Then Get Involved!
Would your company, university sports team, or school like to welcome John in to inspire colleagues, students and teachers? Have you got an upcoming event that would benefit from John’s involvement? If so, then we would love to hear from you. We can adapt to fit. your requirements and budget. Just get those questions ready! Though you will be hard-pressed to beat two from six-year olds:
“How do you tie your shoelaces?”
“Why do you look like a penguin?”
Click the button here to find out more.
Ely College Year 12s lead a Games2Inspire
This was a training module of our Games2Inspire inclusive sports days. With these events we train up older students in the school so that they can lead the younger students through the events. It’s a brilliant way to give leadership opportunities for these students. At Ely College we visited on Monday 4th December and led a training session for the year 12 students. We then returned for the full Games2Inspire on the Friday (8th December). Seven of the 10 students in the sports leaders’ class turned up for training and eight came to deliver the games.
This cohort of Year 12s has been damaged by COVID and were noticeably quieter and less assertive when learning than previous cohorts that I had encountered. However, they did learn and come the Games2Inspire event they surprised both me and the teachers (Ben and Holly, the teachers of the course had joined me) and led 55 Year 7s with enthusiasm and skill.
We played boccia, new age kurling, sitting volleyball, goalball, and sitting netball. Fortunately, I had also taught them how to use a parachute in different ways, because on the Friday we had some spare time, and after a giant game of sitting netball, the year 12s led the year sevens in games involving the parachute, one using a large parachute the other a smaller one.
We were visited by Simon Warburton, the head of the college, who was so impressed with the project that he promised to extol its virtues at the next meeting of heads of schools within the Trust!
The Year 7s exclaimed their enjoyment through much laughter, squeals, and shouts of encouragement.
They clearly enjoyed themselves!
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.
Hillborough Junior School Games2Inspire 2023
This was our second visit to Hillborough Junior School in Luton, after our first invitation last year. Hillborough is a link school for Power2Inspire with one of our brilliant trustees teaching at the school.
We managed to engage with 360 pupils through the day starting with an assembly. Here we talk through lessons to be learned from playing inclusive and adapted sports. I share my story of how I have had to overcome the difficulties of being born without fully formed arms and legs and the children get to ask whatever questions they like. One of the most memorable from Hillborough was:
Were you ever bullied?
To which I answered, “Yes!” And that it was bullying that led to me developing my “Paddington Stare” after my hero! It’s always very important to tell someone if you are being bullied, and to remember that it is not you that caused the bullying – it is always a reflection of the troubles that the bully is experiencing. It was such a rewarding session!
We played 8 sessions, each with 45 children! Beginning with Goalball, a blindfolded Paralympic game that teaches communications and trust. Next up was sitting volleyball. This uses a beach ball that allows children to get used to a ball coming at them with time to responds as well as teaching teamwork and positioning. Finally was new age kurling. This sport allows weaker members of the team to show their touch and is brilliant at including absolutely everyone.
It was such a brilliant day and we’re already looking forward to coming back next time. This is what the team said on X after the day:
Today we had an amazing assembly and sports session with @Power2InspireUK who taught us all about different Paralympic sports. The children loved working together and we learnt so much. What a wonderful inclusive day. Thank you for visiting us!
And linked to this brilliant session was the fact that we are marking a milestone this week.
With the fantastic PowerHouseGames at Roehampton University as well as the students at Hillborough Junior School, we are proud to say that
over the past 10 years our events and talks have ‘inspired’ over 70,000 children and adults.
Here’s to the next 30,000!!
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.