The biggest disability inclusive sports event in Bristol
Access Sport, the sports inclusion charity, has announced the return of the Ignite Bristol Multi-Sport Festival, the biggest disability inclusive sports event in Bristol.
Free for all to attend, the event will bring together different organisations and providers to showcase what disability inclusive sport and physical activity is available. The pan disability event means all needs are welcome, promising a fun filled day for all, 24 wonderful local clubs will be delivering different sports and activities throughout the day, including wrestling, dodgeball, hockey, sensory tennis, and street dance.
Offering those who register the chance to try an array of different sports and activities, there are options for all ages, and families and carers are welcome to join in too. The event will run for one day only, on Thursday 27th October from 12.30 – 16.30 at Hengrove Park Leisure Centre, with the leisure centre kindly offering the venue to the charity for free.
Running during school half term, the event is part of a movement called Ignite Bristol – a collaborative initiative led by Access Sport which aims to get more disabled Bristolians active by making sport inclusive and accessible to all.
There is no doubt that Ignite Bristol has a key role to play, with research showing that disabled people are only half as likely to be active as non-disabled people[i]. The Ignite Bristol Network aims to change this by developing more inclusive, local opportunities for disabled people to participate in community sport. The Network is a co-created group of organisations and professionals from across the sport, disability, health, and education sectors working together to make Bristol a more inclusive, active city for disabled people.
Lizzie Edgecombe, Project Manager at Access Sport, says “This event is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when working together, and we’re delighted to be partnering with WECIL and Cerebral Palsy Plus again to put this event on. There are lots of wonderful groups out there offering inclusive opportunities, but we need to make it easier for disabled people to find these sessions and feel confident to take part. Whilst we’re sure all attendees will have an amazing day, what we’re really hoping for is for participants to find a sport they love so that they can experience the benefits of sport and physical activity for life.”
With stalls where attendees can have a chat with coaches and volunteers to find out more, structured bookable sessions, and drop-in sessions all available at the event, it is up to attendees how they wish to participate in the festival. What’s more, the drop-in sessions are also open to all family members to take part in, meaning parents and siblings can also join in the fun.
For the structured bookable sessions, attendees can select which sessions they wish to take part in when registering. The group sessions of 10-20 people are open to all ages (unless specified) and have limited spaces available. The drop-in sessions don’t need to be booked and will be either done individually or in smaller groups.
Ignite Bristol Multi-Sport Festival runs on Thursday 27th October, 12.30 – 16.30 at Hengrove Park Leisure Centre, Hengrove Promenade, Bristol BS14 0DE. To join this event, you must book in advance. Register here to attend.
