“I feel like it was the best of Bristol. It makes you realise just how much is out there for disabled children."

Ignite Bristol, a network of Bristol-based inclusive sport organisations spearheaded by Access Sport, hosted their biggest multi-sport festival to date last week for local disabled young people.

Held at Oasis Academy in South Bristol, the festival was designed to give local disabled people the opportunity to explore and enjoy the wide range of inclusive sports available in their community.

With over 130 participants, the festival was the biggest yet! It was heartwarming to see so many disabled young people socialising and engaging in community sport – some for the first time! The day also provided a fantastic opportunity for families to connect, creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere of shared support and celebration.

The festival was organised in partnership with local community sports clubs from around the city. Each club hosted taster sessions so participants could get involved and decide whether they would like to join the club.

With an amazing range of inclusive activities, including a mobile climbing wall, wheelchair basketball, Kin-Ball, hockey, tennis, cycling, bowls and archery, the festival was also a fantastic opportunity for inclusive clubs and sports organisations to get together and showcase the range of disability-inclusive sport in Bristol.

Lauren from the Outdoor Education Company said:

“It was so nice to be providing climbing in such a relaxed and pressure-free atmosphere. I loved that people were encouraged to try new things, but that the choice was with them.” 

The highlight of the day came when Jamie, a visually impaired participant, was encouraged to use the mobile climbing wall. After a conversation with Coach Lauren and some information around how the harness works, she managed to climb the wall and negotiate the different holds.

The event was completely free and delivered by experienced coaches and dedicated volunteers. Young participants enjoyed a range of exciting, fully inclusive activities. Each one was thoughtfully adapted to meet their needs, ensuring everyone could participate safely and confidently.

All the clubs involved are proud members of the Ignite Bristol Network, united in their mission to empower local disabled people to get active and stay engaged in sport. The festival’s growth is a direct reflection of Ignite Bristol’s remarkable expansion in recent years. As more clubs, organisations, and stakeholders have joined the network, its impact and reach have grown significantly, enabling more disabled young people to access and enjoy inclusive community sport.

Rowland Clark from PROPs said:

“Just to say a big thanks to you and Access Sport for organising the event; it was really great and our guys enjoyed everything they tried, as well as trying some new activities, which was great. We look forward to the next one!”

Heidi Blunden, Programme Leader, said:

“It’s been such a fantastic day! Thanks to everyone who has joined us today to celebrate inclusive sport in Bristol. These events highlight all the amazing clubs in the Ignite Network and provide a much-needed space to try something new in a relaxed environment.

“We are grateful to everyone who attended the event, especially the volunteers from the University of Bristol, Coach Core and TLT who provided invaluable support throughout the day, as well as all the incredible coaches who facilitated taster sessions. It wouldn’t have been possible without our partners WECIL, Cerebral Palsy Plus, Cerebral Palsy Sport, University of Bristol and Coach Core. We’re also very grateful for support from Gympanzees, who hosted the ‘Chill Zone’ with their lending library equipment.”

To find out about this event or future events like this, please contact:
[email protected]

To see all the pictures from the day, click the link below.
Ignite Festival May 2025 >

For more information on our Changing Places Bristol work, please follow the link below.
Changing Places, Bristol >