I was thrilled to join the Power2Inspire team at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus to hold the first ever PowerHouseGames on the Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, site. The green in front of the Royal Papworth Hospital and the Astra Zeneca building, decorated with flags, large tipis or stretch tents, was perfect for our inclusive games.
Churchill School brought 12 special needs students, who blended into the ten teams with great aplomb. Volunteers from around the campus made up the teams—we had ten teams of mainly four participants. we played boccia, sitting netball, sitting volleyball, goalball, and bean bag/club throw!
The last time I participated in an event hosted by Power2Inspire was a Games2inspire event held at Kings College School in 2014 when I was in year 6. Seeing the growth of this charity has been incredible. It was so nice to play some of the sports I remembered from the last time I participated, such as Boccia, sitting volleyball, and Goalball. I had a great time meeting the children of Churchill School, and with various ages present, it was great to see everyone working together and bonding with their teams.
I have always had a passion for sports, and I played netball and hockey all through school and now at university. So, during the long summer breaks, what better way to spend some days than to get involved with a charity with which I have a personal connection? One highlight that stuck out for me was winning a medal for my participation in sitting volleyball in year 6, so I was very excited to get back involved with sitting volleyball again.
Sarah Brisbane (Royal Papworth Hospital):
“I think these sports inspire even greater teamwork. In a number of them, there was a total reliance on your team mates, for example where one was blindfolded. I hope to base some team working exercises in our Directorate events on what I experienced, to show the value of communication in success.”
Anna Todd (Cambridge Children’s Hospital Project):
“Brilliant to better understand how sport is for all and actually, with a few tweaks, everyone can participate together, rather than having separate events for different abilities. I loved seeing how much the kids grew in confidence throughout the morning.”
The children, and feedback from the other volunteers, made it clear how valuable this experience was for getting children involved in sports and creating an inclusive environment for everyone to have fun. We had a range of volunteers from the Royal Papworth Hospital, The Children’s Hospital Project, and the Cambridge University Hospitals Trust with varying degrees of understanding of how the event worked.
It was clear to see from the feedback received that the event was a resounding success and ‘pure fun’, which left volunteers ‘buzzing for the rest of the day’. Everyone who participated said they would love to get involved again, and I couldn’t agree more.
Ellie Bithell (Royal Papworth Hospital):
“The atmosphere was great and it was lovely to see so many smiling faces and hearing all the laughter from both the children and adults alike. It was such an inclusive event and I feel honoured to have been a part of it.”
Alisa Cole (Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust):
“The best thing about today’s games was that children and adults – regardless of age, sporting experience, work status or physical ability – were competing on a similar level and having so much fun together.”
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.
Huge thanks to volunteer Martha Lansley who has written this brilliant report of the event for us. Martha is currently reading International Relations at the University of Exeter.
Thank you to the team at Cambridge Biomedical Campus for the use of their photos, reproduced here with permission.
If you would like to volunteer at one of our events, or are interested in writing for the website, we would love to hear from you.
Martha Lansley
All photos used with permission
