A total of 28 volunteers from illumina and the university joined … ahem … Cambridge Regional College (Huntingdon Campus), Sawston Village College, The Perse, Castle Special School and Ridgeway – I know, quite a mouthful. But the more the merrier, and every disabled child included in sport is a huge success! After a briefing of the morning ahead at the bright and early time of 9am, the volunteers quickly got into action taking charge of teams of 6, playing inclusive sports against each other.

Onto the main event: inclusive sports. With a packed schedule of boccia, goalball, sitting netball, new age kurling, throwing events and kwik cricket, the sports hall was alive with teams in brightly coloured t-shirts playing against each other!

Some of the most popular games among the children were kwik cricket, sitting volleyball and new age kurling. It was during kwik cricket where I saw a moment encapsulating the spirit of Power2Inspire; a child from a special school helping out a child from a different special school by using a lighter, slower ball when bowling. A moment in which respect and inclusivity overcame their competitive urge to win.

Other highlights of mine came from our game of sitting volleyball. After having reeled puns off one after the other during our halfway break, one of the children, clearly in a competitive mood, went on to trash talk the other team (in a respectful way of course).

Also in the same game, struggling to play with the smaller, faster-moving ball, a beach ball was used, and repeatedly passed to some of our less able team members, all in the name of inclusivity.

The grand finale came as a huge 40-a-side game of sitting netball. With 4 balls in play at points, chaotic fun ensued, and with the bum-on-the-floor-at-all-times rule, I can assure you, as runners, the university students were out of their comfort zone!

With balls flying, trying to reach our designated wheelchair user “scorers” at each end of the court, the team spirit was alive. I’d like to claim that our team won, but amidst all the chaos and excitement, I’m not sure anybody could keep score!

The morning came to a close with the awards ceremony, leaving several children telling me that they’d love to come to another PowerHouseGames. I don’t think the morning can be summed up better than the way a volunteer from illumina put it:

“Community is felt in the moments where people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities come together and truly see one another—not through disability or difference, but through shared joy and teamwork. By playing inclusive sport side by side, disabled children, volunteers, and participants build trust, confidence, and mutual respect, creating a warm sense of belonging where everyone feels valued. This shared experience strengthens community spirit by breaking down barriers and showing that connection, fun, and support are possible when everyone is included.”

What a morning! A big thanks to John Willis, illumina and everybody who helped organise it. I’m not sure who’s more excited for next year’s PowerHouseGames; the volunteers or the children!

We were joined by Castle Special School, a group with additional needs, and a group of boys from The Leys School. In total, the 42 participants were shown to have a wonderful time working together to have fun!

The cricket team had so much fun helping the children of Castle Special School to get involved in ways they never expected. Stand outs included finding work arounds for a teammate to participate in new age kurling, where they could sit on the ground and push it – as they struggled standing.

I also enjoyed helping my teammate to play goalball without all the sensory discomforts of the eye mask. We had an especially fun time playing Kwik cricket, teaching the kids how to hold the bat, and seeing how far they could hit it (further than me is the answer!).

We were all so impressed with our teammates and had a great (albeit competitive) time trying to beat each other in the games.

The highlight of the day was (obviously) the huge game of sitting netball played in teams of 20 at the end. In my three years participating in the PowerHouseGames, this event has never ceased to be beautifully chaotic for all teams to enjoy. Seeing everyone work out their own bum-shuffling tactics never ceases to amuse me, and seeing how the children work together as a team is so exciting to see.

It was hilarious and impressive seeing one child roll over backwards to take the all-important catch that led to their team scoring a goal against my own. While I was dismayed not to win the game, it was utterly joyful to be able to play with such wonderful teammates from both Castle Special School and The Leys School.

Arjun Rajkumar of CUCC says:

“It was amazing to see so many kids all getting involved in the various sports, and incredibly rewarding to see the smiles on their faces. It is so important to ensure that everyone has access to inclusive sport, and these PowerHouseGames were a very fun way to do so, for kids and volunteers alike.”

Mara Smith of CUCC says:

“A very fun morning was had by all who attended the games. It was great to see everybody coming together to take part in the inclusive sports. Can’t wait for next year!”

A big thanks to every student at the Cambridge University Cricket Club who braved the early morning. But an even bigger thank you should go to John Willis and Alex Laybourne at Power2Inspire, Clare Laidler and Kevin Martin at Castle Special School, and Stephen Peak and Ben Elston from The Leys School.

We had such a wonderful time returning for our 6th year with the Power2Inspire team, and hope that we can return next year.

The day featured a carousel of inclusive sports including boccia, kurling, seated volleyball, goalball, walking football, and kwik cricket, which made its debut this year. It concluded with a huge, seated netball game, which started with one ball and ended with three flying across the court – a highlight that captured the fun and collaborative spirit of the day.

The event was supported by University staff, student volunteers, and the team from Warwick Sport. Warwick Sport Scholars were also on hand to present medals and certificates to every participant, celebrating their commitment and teamwork.

John Willis, Founder and Chief Ambassador of Power2Inspire, said:

“The PowerHouseGames shows what’s possible when schools, universities and communities work together to put inclusion first. To see participants fully engaged, adapting, communicating and celebrating each other’s success is exactly what the Games were created to achieve.”

As the 96th edition closes, the PowerHouseGames continues to demonstrate that inclusive sport has the power to bring people together – and Warwick looks forward to welcoming the Games back for a fifth time in 2027.

A massive thank you to all who made the day a success! Thank you to staff and children from the schools: Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, St John Bosco College, Woldingham School, and College Park School. A shout-out to the friendly staff at Roehampton Sports & Fitness Centre for hosting us once again. A special thanks goes to Zak from UCFB and Graham from Boccia England for their expertise and encouragement, and to Sam – an inspiring triathlete and Guinness World Record holder for becoming the first triathlete with autism to compete at the Ironman World Championships!

What I personally love about the PowerHouseGames is the friendships that are formed in such a short amount of time. Without prompting from me, the pupils in my group were not only supportive and encouraging of one another during the different games, but also showed great sportsmanship by cheering on pupils from other groups.

The highlight of the day for me was seeing the sheer joy of one pupil in my group, Amir, from College Park, a school for pupils with autism and complex needs. Amir was initially supported by a member of staff, who soon stepped back and allowed him to take part independently. The other pupils in our group were incredibly encouraging, making sure Amir had his turn in every game.

As the day progressed, Amir became more excited and involved, and his laughter was contagious. It was wonderful to see his confidence grow. A member of school staff commented that it was the most excited and engaged they had seen Amir in a long time, which truly highlighted how impactful the PowerHouseGames can be for all pupils!

It wasn’t just me who saw how impactful the PowerHouseGames were. Another volunteer, Helena, also shared her experience:

“One of my highlights of the day was when two of the pupils gave me high fives at the end of the session. One of them told me that this was the best school trip they had ever been on.”

I am proud of and thankful to all the volunteers from the University of Roehampton who helped make the day a success.

Thank you to John Willis and the Power2Inspire team for making the PowerHouse Games happen and for letting us be a part of it. I look forward to the next one!

Sarah Atkinson
Digby Stuart College Engagement Administrative Officer
University of Roehampton