“I really loved climbing, I’ve joined cubs and iFly and now I want to join climbing. I love climbing on the wall!” - Bobby, participant aged 8

Last week, Access Sport hosted a fully inclusive Multi-Sport SEND Festival at Summit Up Climbing Centre, welcoming over 30 pupils from four Manchester SEND schools.

The festival offered a full day of movement, creativity and new experiences, with activities specifically designed to break down barriers, build confidence and provide opportunities many young people may never have encountered before.

Participants were able to try out climbing, bouldering, cheerleading, yoga, fitness sessions and arts and crafts. Each activity was carefully planned and adapted to suit a wide range of physical, sensory and communication needs, ensuring that every young person could take part in a way that felt safe, supported and enjoyable.

A teacher attending the event shared:

“Events like this are huge for the pupils’ confidence because it pushes them out of their comfort zone and makes them realise what they can achieve when they put their mind to it.”

To ensure the event was fully inclusive, a range of inclusive resources and adjustments were put in place to reduce anxiety, aid communication and help young people understand what to expect throughout the day. This included:

• A visual timetable using PECS-style images
• Smaller activity groups
• Adapted activities to ensure accessibility for wheelchair users and young people with differing physical abilities
• Quiet spaces and flexible participation

These inclusive resources helped to create an atmosphere where young people felt safe, supported and confident, allowing them to enjoy the experience and take part in activities in a way that worked best for them.

A teacher from one of the SEND schools described the impact:

“This event has been really accessible. The visual timetable and all the information has worked really well for our school. The event is well supported with lots of staff to help the children.“

While physical activity was at the heart of the festival, the day also focused on confidence building, social interaction, and giving young people the chance to try activities that may not be available to them in everyday life. Coaches, volunteers and school staff worked closely together to ensure that all participants felt safe, supported, and able to enjoy the day at their own pace.

Another teacher shared:

“It really benefits them. It helps with their confidence as its not something they’ve done before… now that they are here, seeing what’s going on, they can see that it’s a lovely experience, pushing them to give it a go and they can keep trying again and again.”

To see pictures from the day, click the link below:

Greater Manchester SEND Multi-Sport Festival >