100 PowerHouseGames – wow! When I reflect on this milestone I am blown away by how far we have come, how much joy there has been and how many people have been impacted by the beauty and fun of inclusive sport.
We were delighted that ITV came to highlight the event to viewers too. Get a sneak peek from this brilliant event by clicking the link here:
First to the first: it was Jeremy Macklin (now chair of Power2Inspire) and Catherine Stewart (great supporter of the charity) who took my ideas of inclusive sport and turned them into the PowerHouseGames (PHG). Jeremy was keen the elite rugby players at Cambridge University should be shown quite how privileged they were. Having them play inclusive or adapted games with SEN students and others brought them out of their ivory towers and reminded them how fortunate they were.
Kevin Martin, PE lead at Castle Special School, believed in the concept and is now one of our greatest champions. He suggested 12 was the best number – ideal for their minibus – so the format was set. Twelve teams of 6 with each team member coming from a different group. The men and women from Cambridge University Rugby Club provided the bulk of the participants, PEM (local accountants) brought 12, as did Felsted and Impington Village College.
The first was a huge success but it took time to gain traction. Year 2 – 2019 – saw three PHGs. We managed 3 in each of the covid years (of which I am enormously proud) and exploded to 11 in 2022, showing there was real demand. That growth has continued with 23 in 2024 and an astonishing 30 last year!
And the success has seen growth around the country, having reached Worcester, Durham, Folkestone, Lord’s and Leicester Tigers. Next month we are off to Saracens Rugby Club, and we will be revisiting the National Sports Centre at Bisham Abbey and Oxford University this coming term.
Some numbers: 6,000 participants, of whom 1,800 have a declared impairment; 36 venues; 15 counties; 217 groups from 201 organisations; 22 different sports or games; and the largest game of sitting netball ever with 100 players!
For the 100th PHG we invited back numerous schools and businesses who have supported us on this journey:
- Schools: Felsted, The Perse, Littlegarth, Quilters, Landmark, Churchill, and, of course, Castle.
- Businesses: PEM, and Illumina
- Community: the Cambridge University Sports Staff and fundraiser James.
But we are always looking forward, so the students came from Wolfson College, their first time, and from their responses, not their last!
As ever, Power2Inspire’s No. 1 Rule – “To have FUN!” – was met in spades. In addition to the most commonly played four – boccia, new age kurling, sitting volleyball and goalball – we played rugby netball (introduced by Emily Hartwell of Saracens) and kwik cricket (as a thank you to cricket lover and great volunteer David Ellis).
And, as is now becoming a tradition of the Games, we finished with a giant game of sitting netball – “organised chaos”, “great fun”, surprisingly competitive!”
The occasion was marked with a presentation to the Cambridge University Sports Centre – hosting for the 40th time – accepted by Prof. Bhaskar Vira, Pro Vice Chancellor of Cambridge University for Education and Environmental Sustainability.
Those are the facts. But they only tell half the story.
Kevin Martin of Castle explains the value of the PowerHouseGames:
“The PowerHouseGames is a fantastic event, such a valuable experience for our students (one they don’t normally have) to socialise and interact with people from all walks of life in a totally inclusive event. Our students treasure this experience, and it often inspires them to challenge themselves further both socially and physically in new environments. The other school pupils, university students and volunteers from local businesses, benefit too, from integrating with our fantastic students. Get involved – it really is worthwhile.”
Charlotte and Cheryl from the Perse wrote:
“We were first introduced to the Powerhouse Games in Year 8 when we spent a day playing inclusive games within our year group. We raised money for the Power to Inspire charity.
First, we were allocated our teams, with everyone from different schools, giving us a chance to meet new people. Our T-Shirts were of different colours adorned with a logo celebrating 100 PowerHouseGames.
The rules were clear and simple – have fun! We were presented with an itinerary of sports but they came with a twist, they were modified to accommodate all abilities and ages. No matter the outcome, everyone stayed positive and encouraged each other.
Everyone made a huge effort to get to know each other and formed a strong group bond, ensuring everyone felt included and nobody was left on the bench!
Our favourite sports included, sitting volleyball – where the whole team was sitting down and had to push a large inflated beachball to the other team – and goalball where half of the team were blindfolded and the other half gave directions as to where a ball with a bell was heading.
We were all awarded gold medals, a certificate and we were allowed to keep our T-Shirts as a memento. We are so grateful to have been given this opportunity and we hope that PowerHouseGames continue to inspire others for another 100 games until no one is ever left on the bench!”
My favourite moments include:
- The 50 year old wheelchair user who had never played sport and become institutionally disabled, scoring a hoop in sitting netball, his first ever score. His smile will live with me forever.
- The teaching assistant crying as her student joined in for the first time at anything – “This is life changing!”
- The young SEN student shouting out, after everyone had roared back “YES!” to my question, “Have you had fun?”, “I have had the best day of my life!”.
Please help us – by volunteering, fundraising, networking, or donating – to reach 200 PowerHouseGames and beyond.
You can help make more “Best days of my life!” come true.
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 Paul Sanwell and Chris Fell for the amazing photographs. And, of course, young Mackenzie from Churchill who spent the entire session helping, learning about photography and taking photos with the pros!
All photos used with permission.
