“Look at me, I’m flying!” – BMX participant

Bristol was buzzing with energy last Friday as Ignite Bristol hosted its latest multi-sport festival, welcoming 120 young people from across the city for an inclusive and inspiring afternoon of activity.

Ignite Bristol is a growing network of inclusive clubs and organisations spearheaded by Access Sport, united in their mission to empower disabled and disadvantaged young people to get active and stay engaged in sport.

This year’s festival saw 43% of attendees joining for the first time, highlighting the continued growth of the initiative and its success in reaching new families. For many participants, it was their first opportunity to try a new sport in a supportive and welcoming environment.

Arlo, participant aged 9, shared:

“I really enjoy football but our local club as at least an hour drive away, it is so nice to be able to come here and play.”

Events like this are vital in showcasing the range of inclusive opportunities available across Bristol. The festival provides a gateway for families to discover activities and connect with clubs beyond the event itself.

The festival offered a wide range of activities, delivered by coaches and volunteers representing 12 different sports and activities. Each session was adapted to meet individual needs, ensuring participants could take part safely, confidently, and at their own pace.

The event was made possible through the dedication of Access Sport staff, local clubs and coaches and a fantastic team of 20+ volunteers from the University of Bristol and TLT, who helped create a welcoming and energetic atmosphere throughout the day.

Henry, a volunteer and player at Air Rugby, shared:

“Before Air Rugby, there wasn’t really any opportunities outside of contact rugby. I had to resign from contact rugby but with help from my dad we started an inclusive tag rugby club so that I could keep playing rugby".

Local organisations and partners were also on hand to support families and promote ongoing opportunities to stay active, helping to strengthen connections within Bristol’s inclusive sport community.

Feedback from attendees reflected the event’s success, with 83% rating their experience as great and the remaining 17% rating it as good.

Lois, participant aged 12, shared:

"I really enjoyed today and my football club because I get to talk to other people and have loads of fun".

We would like to extend a huge thank you to our Ignite partners and the University of Bristol, who generously provided the venue free of charge and supported the event with their brilliant volunteers.

With another successful festival complete, we look ahead to continuing to break down barriers and create even more opportunities for young people to get active, try something new and feel part of an inclusive sporting community.

Hannah Davis-Coward, Programme Leader at Access Sport, shared:

''The festival was a truly fantastic celebration of inclusive community sport in Bristol. Seeing the smiles on so many young people's faces was amazing, many of whom it was their first time trying something brand new. Our thanks go to everyone who made the event possible and feel so special, as well as the families who made the effort to join us for the afternoon. We're looking forward to next year already!'' 

To find out about this event or future events like this, please contact:

[email protected]

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

Ignite Bristol May 2026 >

For more information about Changing Places Bristol, follow the link below.

Changing Places Bristol >