Quilters Paralympic Week 2022
Quilters' Junior School Paralympic Week 2022
Our Chief Ambassador and Founder, John Willis, recently returned to Quilters’ Junior School in Essex, for their annual Paralympic Week. Quilters’ Paralympic Week celebrates inclusion, diversity and role models in a host of fun and accessible sports activities.
Taking place over the week, John hosted a series of accessible sports games, including new age kurling, sitting volleyball, sitting netball and goalboal for all year groups and classes to get involved with. Quilters’ pupils played sports in a competitive fashion, practiced resilience, teamwork and perseverance competing in fun games against other classes in their year group.
The week particularly focused on role models, with Mike Wade, Quilters Head Teacher introducing John as his inspiring role model. John encouraged pupils to live by his mantras; “never give up”; “practice makes progress”; and “I can’t do it… YET”.
By the end of the week, pupils were chanting this back to him.
The week also saw an exhilarating tennis competition between John and Mike, cheered on, in pantomime style, by lots of inspired pupils – although the tennis champion is still up for debate!
John Willis, Chief Ambassador and Founder said:
“I believe passionately everybody has the power to inspire. The pupils of Quilters Junior inspired me, each other and their teachers through their engagement, sportsmanship and leaving no-one on the bench.
We had another fantastic week at Quilters, and we’re already looking forward to coming back next year. It’s great to hear the students really taking on board my positive mantras, lots of children remembered them from previous years which is excellent.”
Lots of positive feedback has been received, with parents telling us how excited their children are when John visits the school.
One parent of a Year 6 pupil, said:
“I just wanted to say thank you so much for all that you have done over the last week.
“My son has been so inspired and engaged by John; he has talked about the sessions every day when he has got home, and has of his own volition been starting conversations with me about determination, perseverance and inclusion.
“As a parent, this is exactly what I want for my son – a mindset and inspirational figure that goes way beyond what school normally gives. So, thank you.”
Huge thank you to Quilters Junior School for hosting us, we look forward to returning next year.
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. As you can read in our Latest News we have even found a way to make our Games2Inspire a success in lockdown so don’t hesitate to get in touch and we can help you plan your very own Games2Inspire!!
Click the button here to find out more.
Festival of Inclusive Cricket 2022
Milestone as Power2Inspire delivers first London-based Festival of Inclusive Cricket
Power2Inspire teamed up with Highgate Cricket Club to deliver our first Festival of Inclusive Cricket in the capital. Our charity is rapidly expanding after more organisations pledge to make inclusion a priority – we’re proud of the work we’re able to do to make sure people with special educational needs and disabilities aren’t left on the bench.
Our sports events are designed to ensure people of all ages and abilities can take part together.
The family-friendly event saw 40 people from the local community come together to watch Highgate Inclusive XI take on Middlesex Disability XI as they won by one wicket in a thrilling game of cricket.
A whole host of fun and inclusive cricket activities were also enjoyed throughout the evening, including visually impaired cricket and adapted games of kwik cricket.
John Willis, Founder and Chief Ambassador of Power2Inspire, said:
It was an absolute delight to bring this wonderful showcase of inclusive sport to Highgate Cricket Club. We believe no-one should be left on the bench and it was fantastic to see families getting stuck-in. We’re pleased to team-up with Highgate Cricket Club to bring our sell-out sports festival to London for the first time.
We are proud of the expansion of our charity – we want to make a difference for as many people as possible. From delivering events for Visa UK and Leicester Tigers Foundation to hiring two new Trustees and visiting new places in the UK.
Johan de Silva, Director of Cricket at Highgate Cricket Club, said::
Highgate Cricket Club is proud and excited to have collaborated with Power2Inspire on the Festival of Inclusive Cricket 2022.
As a club we are dedicated to ensuring that the fun and excitement of recreational sport are enjoyed by everyone. Power2Inspire are a fantastic charity that host sports events for everyone to enjoy, with a fun, caring and inspirational style. We are thrilled to have seen our ground shared by first timers, seasoned pros and everyone in between!
It was a fantastic event, and we’re looking forward to continuing this partnership with many more events in the near future.
Seeing players of all abilities and ages having fun gives me a real sense of achievement.
If you are inspired for inclusive sport then do join us at one of our other upcoming Festivals of Inclusive Sport:
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New trustee roles announced for 2022
Power2Inspire, are seeking to recruit two new Trustees to help shape the future of the company
We have an exciting new opportunity available – we are seeking to recruit two new trustees after an exceptionally busy year to continue the organisation’s work making an incredible difference to the lives of young people and the wider community.
Running sports events across the country, the charity is creating a world where no-one is left on the bench. Our Founder, John Willis, who was born without fully formed arms and legs, was also born passionate about sport. Frustrated that as a child he could not play sports with his friends, he founded the charity with a vision that everyone should have the chance to play fun sports together.
Having hosted over 20 festivals of inclusive sports, 140 PowerHouseGames – accessible sports days that unite children from private, independent and special educational needs schools to come together for a day of accessible sport – and talked to over 35,000 people, we are now looking to expand.
We are seeking to recruit two new trustees to maintain the vision, missions and values of the charity, to maintain financial control and accountability and to oversee policies and procedures.
One role will have a focus on safeguarding. The position is for a three-year term and trustees will be required to dedicate approximately eight days a year to the charity.
Chief Ambassador and Founder, John Willis, said:
“We’re proud to have hosted such a staggering number of fantastic events – it’s an honour to be able to provide opportunities that inspire young people.
“We will soon be making our debut in London with our upcoming Festival of Inclusive Cricket at Highgate Cricket Club in Crouch End, which we’re really looking forward to.
We’re always looking for new and innovative ways to provide the community with sports opportunities.
If you have a passion for sports and a desire to make a difference to wellbeing, especially that of disabled people and other under-represented groups – we’d love to hear from you.
The charity is growing from strength to strength – it’s a really exciting time to get involved.”
You can find out more the roles and apply to become a Trustee by clicking the button
London debut for the Festival of Inclusive Cricket!
Power2Inspire will make their London debut as they bring Festival of Inclusive Tennis to Crouch End
Power2Inspire have teamed-up with Highgate Cricket Club to bring its sell-out sports festival to London for the first time.
The family friendly event on Friday 19th August, invites people to watch Highgate Inclusive XI team take on Middlesex XI. From 4.45pm, there will be the opportunity to take part in cricket activities on the professional pitch and a barbecue and refreshments later in the evening.
John Willis, Founder and Chief Executive of Power2Inspire, said:
“We are delighted to be bringing our Festival of Inclusive Cricket to London. The evening is designed so that there is something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re a cricket enthusiast, or you’re new to the sport, this event welcomes everyone – fun for all the family!
“We are extremely grateful to Highgate Cricket Club for providing us with such a fantastic location. It is an honour to be able to invite the local community to join in with such a fun and friendly afternoon of exciting cricket.”
Johan de Silva, Director of Cricket at Highgate Cricket Club, said:
“Highgate Cricket Club is proud and excited to collaborate with Power2Inspire on the Festival of Inclusive Cricket 2022.
“As a club we are dedicated to ensuring that the fun and excitement of recreational sport are enjoyed by everyone. Power2Inspire have a proven track record of delivering inclusive sport with a fun, caring and inspirational style, and we cannot wait to see our ground shared by first timers, seasoned pros and everyone in between!”
Click the orange button to find out more and register for this brilliant inclusive event.
See you there!
If you’re inspired for Inclusive Sport then do join us at any of our next big events:
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Wimbledon weekend sees fantastic turnout at FIT'22!
Wimbledon weekend sees fantastic turnout at our Festival of Inclusive Tennis
We hosted our Festival of Inclusive Tennis, in partnership with Cambridge Tennis Academy at Cambridge University Sports Centre on Saturday 2nd July. The event brought together the local community who teamed-up to play rounds of fun and inclusive tennis, giving Serena Williams and Dylan Alcott a run for their money!
Specialist coaches from Cambridge Tennis Academy were also in attendance to provide fun and relaxed coaching sessions. The coaches adapted the tennis where necessary, using sponge balls and smaller rackets to ensure that no one was left on the bench.
John Willis, Founder and Chief Ambassador of Power2Inspire, said:
“We were delighted to host our Festival of Inclusive Tennis at Cambridge University Sports Centre. Every year, the event has proved a huge success with both disabled and able-bodied players enjoying the day. It really is fun for all the family – designed so that everyone can take part.
“We are extremely grateful to Cambridge Tennis Academy for providing specialist coaching meaning that everyone could benefit from playing. It was a joy to see so many people of different abilities, getting involved with fun and accessible sport.”
Rob Ellis, Director of Tennis at Cambridge Tennis Academy, said:
“The Festival of Inclusive Tennis has grown from strength to strength over the years, with a fantastic amount of players of all abilities in attendance. The event welcomes everyone – players of all backgrounds, abilities, disabilities and ages and that’s why we love it so much.
“It fills me with a huge sense of achievement to see players who wouldn’t typically play in traditional tennis tournaments, being included and having such fun. Giving everyone the opportunity to play tennis is invaluable.
“Tennis can often be seen as an elitist sport, and we wanted to debunk the myth and ensure the sport is accessible to everyone.”
We’re already looking forward to next year’s event!
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.
If you’re inspired for Inclusive Sport then do join us at any of our next big events:
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With special thanks to Tony Barr at Alban Images for his incredible photography on the day. All photos used with permission