“I’m so excited,
this is my first medal!”

Inclusive Sports Festival Participant

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

Held at Ashton Park Sports Centre 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 and there was a variety of inclusive activities on offer, including tennis, fencing and wheelchair basketball. The festival was a fantastic opportunity for inclusive clubs and sports organisations to get together and showcase the range of disability-inclusive activities available in Bristol.

All clubs involved are part of the Ignite Bristol Network and therefore committed to getting more disabled people active in Bristol.

One parent said: “Getting the children involved has been brilliant, a lot of them would be stuck inside with computers and things like that, and this gets them active which is good.”

Running for over four years, the festival continues to be a fantastic date in the diary where the Ignite Bristol Network can assemble and drive forward the inclusive community sport in the city. All of the clubs in attendance use the festival as an opportunity to engage disabled people, who might otherwise not be active, in their clubs or sessions. 

One young participant said:
“I’m so excited, this is my first medal!” after receiving a participation award at the end of the day. It was inspiring to see so many young people, who are so often excluded from physical activity, experiencing the joy of participating in inclusive sport.  

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 pan-disability and were adapted to ensure that everyone could enjoy taking part safely. This led to many participants feeling comfortable and trying various activities they hadn’t previously considered possible.

Lizzie Edgecombe, Senior Development Manager, said:
“It’s fantastic to be back for another Ignite Bristol Multi-Sport festival. It’s important to remember that events like this one are essential when it comes to engaging disabled young people in the Bristol area. Thank you to all the coaches who continue to attend these events and champion inclusive sport in the city!”

We are grateful to everyone who attended the event, especially the volunteers from the University of Bristol and Qoda who supported us throughout the day, as well as all the amazing coaches who gave up their time to offer taster sessions. It wouldn’t have been possible without our event partners WECIL, Cerebral Palsy Plus, Out & About Short Breaks and the University of Bristol. We’re very grateful for support from RWK Goodman who sponsored the event, and Irwin Mitchell who kindly provided printed copies of the Ignite Bristol Directory listing details of all the inclusive clubs in the area.

To find out more about Ignite Bristol’s work visit their webpage:
Ignite Bristol