“Seeing the joy on her face when she felt she was doing well was so great for us as parents.” – Parent of participant

On International Women’s Day, Ignite Bristol – led by Access Sport – hosted its second Women and Girls’ Multi-Sport Festival at Hengrove Park Leisure Centre.

The festival brought together 28 participants who identify as female or non-binary, including 12 first-time attendees, marking Ignite Bristol’s biggest women and girls’ festival to date!

With an age range of 5 to 31 years old, the event created an open, welcoming environment that encouraged all participants to try something new and feel supported.

The participants explored a range of sports, delivered by trusted local partners and clubs dedicated to making sport accessible and enjoyable for women and girls

A highlight of the day was the presence of Louise Hunt-Skelley, former Paralympic wheelchair tennis player, who spent time speaking with participants and joining in with activities. Reflecting on the festival, she shared:

“I was really honoured to be at the festival, and I thought the turnout was incredible. What I loved the most was how there was a variety of sports on offer, but how it was such a calm and relaxing environment, where anyone could try anything, anytime. There was adaptation to anyone’s abilities and what they wanted to do. It was a wonderfully friendly environment to be a part of, and I hope to come back next year.”

Parents and carers were also supported throughout the event, with Bristol Parent Carers and Avon Tennis on hand to offer advice and information.

A parent of a participant shared:

“It’s the chance for her to try sports that we wouldn't usually try. I think she felt really good about herself after trying the climbing, because she'd done really well and got lots of encouragement from other people around.”

Adding to the excitement of the day, Bristol City Robins Foundation gave each participant the opportunity to claim two free tickets to the final Bristol City Women’s match of the season, encouraging families to continue engaging with women’s sport beyond the event. Participants could also enter a draw to win a special goodie bag provided by Her Game Too, including a £50 voucher for their online shop and a selection of other merchandise.

Amy Baker, Access Sport Community Coordinator, said:

“The atmosphere was filled with confidence, connection and community - everything International Women’s Day should represent. We were honoured to welcome Paralympian Louise Hunt Skelley PLY, whose presence highlighted the importance of visible role models in disability sport. Representation for women and girls with disabilities remains far too limited, and this event felt like a meaningful step in the right direction. The festival showcased powerful collaboration between partners across the city, which will be key to maintaining this momentum and creating even more opportunities for all women and girls in Bristol.”

The success of this festival reflects our continued efforts to create a future where all women and girls have equal opportunities to be active, confident and connected through sport.

If you would like to find out more about this event or future events like this, please contact [email protected].

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

Ignite Women & Girls’ Festival >

Photography Credit: Erin Stait Media