On Wednesday, June 12th, we celebrated our 45th PowerHouseGames at the iconic Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium in partnership with Leicester Tigers and Leicester Tigers Foundation. It was an unforgettable day!
The opportunity to partake in inclusive sports games at such a prestigious venue was truly special. It created lasting memories for everyone as we commemorated the milestone of 45 PowerHouseGames for Power2Inspire!
12 teams of six each took to the pitch, each embodying the spirit of teamwork and sportsmanship. We welcomed Brooksby Melton College, who brought two groups – one of men and one of women. South Kilworth Primary School, Ellesmere College and FossMead Primary Academy each contributed a group of 12 students, adding to the lively atmosphere on the pitch! It was wonderful to see our corporate sponsors for the day, Samworth Brothers, add to the excitement by bringing a group of 13 to participate in the inclusive sports events. This truly demonstrated their wonderful support for sports inclusivity within the community!
Most notably, the presence of Leicester Tigers players Cameron Henderson and Amelia Tuck added a special touch to the day. Cameron, a member of the first-team men’s squad, and Amelia, a key player for the ladies’ team, actively participated, delighting the young students, many of whom support Leicester Tigers.
As always, our PowerHouseGames featured a diverse range of activities designed to be fun and inclusive. On the day goalball and sitting volleyball were particularly featured. It was great to see.
Leicester City in the Community led walking football sessions too! This certainly added a new inclusive activity to the table which added more excitement and challenge to the day. We also saw Leicestershire County Cricket Club lead Kwik cricket sessions, while Leicester Tigers supervised rugby obstacle activities. We had a blast navigating slalom cones, shooting a ball through a target, tackling bags, and even kicking a ball at a giant dartboard! These activities were all about having fun and testing our skills in an adaptable and engaging way.
The walking touch rugby was a big hit among the students, and it was a wonderful way to encourage everyone to work together! A particularly touching moment occurred during one of the touch rugby games. A student with special needs burst past an opponent and scored a try. The sheer joy on his face was matched by the cheers from his teammates and the crowd. It was a glorious moment, and, for me, it exemplified the true spirit of the PowerHouseGames.
Teachers observed remarkable growth in their students throughout the day. They noted that the students’ confidence increased as they interacted with others, developing vital social skills outside their usual school groups. It was clear that PowerHouseGames offered a unique and enriching environment for them to learn, interact, and grow. Particularly for many of the students from Ellesmere College, this was their first experience of such an event, and it was wonderful to hear teachers express their gratitude and enthusiasm at the end of the day. The consensus was clear: the event had been a tremendous success.
Karen Holdsworth, the lead representative from Samworth Brothers, shared her excitement about the event. She praised the initiative for
“being a brilliant example of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in action”
whilst expressing a strong desire to participate again in the future. We look forward to future work with Samworth Brothers!
It was fantastic to hear that the representatives from Leicester City Football Club found the event enlightening! Despite their prior experience with inclusive football, they particularly valued the diversity of ages, experiences, enthusiasm, and abilities at the PowerHouseGames. It was wonderful to learn that they had also developed new approaches to inclusivity.
At the end of the day, Leicester Tigers players Cameron Henderson and Amelia Tuck had the honor of handing out medals and certificates to the participants. Their presence and support added a special touch to the closing ceremony, creating cherished memories for all involved.
A big thank you goes to Sam Johnston and Melissa Powery, who were instrumental in hosting the event at the stadium. Their efforts were brilliant and are greatly appreciated.
It is also timely to extend our gratitude to Tim Cooper of Cooper’s Trophies for providing the medals for all our PowerHouseGames. His contribution always adds a special touch to the event, reminding everyone of the significance of their achievements. Karen from Samworth Brothers summed it up perfectly:
“Oh yes, I’m going to take my medal away. Everybody loves a medal.”
The 45th PowerHouseGames was a resounding success; a celebration of inclusivity, community, and our growth since our very first PowerHouseGames in 2018. Thank you to everyone who made this day possible, and we look forward to creating more unforgettable memories at Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium in the future!
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.
