“I think it is beautiful; I’d like to thank you. It’s great to see the children and the parents very happy!”

Ignite Bristol, a network of Bristol-based inclusive sport organisations spearheaded by Access Sport, hosted an inspiring multi-sport festival last week to engage local disabled young people in community sport.

Held at Trinity Academy in Bristol, the festival was organised in partnership with community sports clubs from around the city.

Over 75 people attended with their friends and family, making it one of the largest Ignite Bristol winter festivals ever! It was inspiring to see so many disabled young people socialising and engaging in community sport – some for the first time!

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

The event was free for all participants, led by experienced coaches and volunteers, and the young people were treated to exciting sessions. All the activities were adapted for all needs so everyone could enjoy taking part safely.

All clubs involved are part of the Ignite Bristol Network and are committed to encouraging local disabled people to get active.

It was wonderful to see the smiles on the faces of young people as they enjoyed activities they may not have experienced before. Families and young people also socialised and created a great atmosphere of mutual support.

A volunteer said:

“It’s great to see people that don’t usually have access sport being able to participate in activities and get all the benefits of sports”

Once again this festival has highlighted the power of community sport. By creating an inclusive and welcoming environment, this event provides local disabled young people with a positive sporting experience, encouraging them to join a local community sport club and experience the life-changing benefits of being active long term.

Heidi Blunden, Programme Leader, said:

“We are so pleased to have so many people attend today! It’s been great to see so many families come out despite the horrible weather. Events like this are so important when engaging disabled people in the Bristol area. Thank you to all the coaches and volunteers who continue to attend and support our efforts to make inclusion the norm in Bristol! We are also grateful to our partners WECIL, Cerebral Palsy Plus and The University of Bristol who supported us in delivering this wonderful event.”

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 November 2023 >

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