"Yesterday was so lush! I signed my son up for wrestling in February and climbing on Thursday. You absolutely smashed it and have impacted the lives of so many people."

Clifton College’s Chellaram Sports Ground was buzzing with excitement this weekend as Ignite Bristol hosted its latest multi-sport festival, bringing together disabled and disadvantaged young people from across the city for an unforgettable day of community sport.

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 remain engaged in sport.

Three in four disabled children would like to be more active, so these festivals are vital to showcase the breadth of inclusive opportunities available locally, providing a gateway for families to connect with clubs and activities beyond the event.

A parent of a young participant shared:

“It is great to have access to so many sports and lovely coaches. The festival is an opportunity for my child to try something different without feeling self-conscious.”

The festival was full of choice, with a wide range of sports on offer including wrestling, wheelchair basketball, gymnastics, climbing and much more! Each activity was thoughtfully adapted to meet individual needs, ensuring everyone could participate safely and confidently.

One young participant at the festival said:

“I feel like I’m able to get stuck into all the sports here!”

The festival was free to attend, delivered by experienced coaches and supported by a team of dedicated volunteers from the University of Bristol. Stalls from local organisations such as Cerebral Palsy Plus, Bristol Parent Carers, LifeCycle, Avon Tennis and Bristol Inclusive Climbing who shared resources and advice to support ongoing participation.

To ensure Ignite truly reflects the needs of disabled people, we hosted a community consultation hosted by Activity Alliance, Access Sport’s Youth Voice and University of West England students on the day of the event. The session explored the barriers that disabled people face when trying to be active and access local opportunities, gathering insights to shape this festival and future events, while reinforcing our commitment to making inclusion the norm.

A volunteer at the event shared:

“It was meaningful to be involved with neurodivergent and disabled individuals and to be part of their day. I would love the opportunity to get in touch with Access Sport to support their vision and goals, and to be involved in any future volunteering opportunities.”

Recognising that 30% of participants were autistic, we implemented feedback from last year’s indoor winter festival to mitigate noise and sensory overwhelm. Adjustments included:

• Quieter equipment (e.g. foam balls)
• Lower lighting
• Tactile participation stickers
• Coloured activity zones
• A dedicated Calm Space by WECIL.

Heidi Blunden, Access Sport Programme Leader, shared:

“A real highlight for me was greeting participants in the sports hall and seeing their excitement at the range of activities on offer. It was great to welcome families returning to another festival and those experiencing the Ignite community for the first time.”

A special thanks to Clifton College for their generosity in hosting the festival at their Chellaram Sports Ground.

Ross Chapman, Sports Ground Manager at Clifton College, said:

“We were delighted to welcome and support the Ignite Multi-Sport Festival in partnership with Access Sport at the Chellaram Sports Complex at Clifton College's Sports Ground. This festival brought young people together to sample different adaptive sports, meet new people, and enjoy being active in a friendly and supportive environment. The event reinforces Clifton College's commitment to community sport, providing young people with the spaces, resources, and encouragement to get involved, be active, and enjoy the benefits of participating in sport.”

Recognising the importance of our multi-sport festival, BBC West featured the event, highlighting the role of inclusive sport in breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for disabled young people.

Read the full BBC coverage >

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 Bristol Winter Festival >

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

Changing Places Bristol >