FREE Wheelchair Sports Festival coming to Liverpool this March

 

Banner showing dates of Merseyside Wheelpower Sports Festival taking place on Thursday 14 March. Power chair user photo.

On Thursday 14 March the Greenbank Sports Academy in Liverpool will be hosting the very first Merseyside Sports Festival. Organised by WheelPower, the national charity for wheelchair sport, the FREE event will provide local disabled people with a life changing opportunity to experience a number of different sports, whilst learning from a brilliant team of local sport coaches.

The event is open to anyone over the age of 5 with a physical disability and a great introduction to the many benefits of wheelchair sport. As well as enjoying the sports on offer, the WheelPower Sports Festivals are mostly about having fun, making new friends and discovering what’s on offer nearer to where you live. Confirmed sports include: badminton, para laser run, table tennis, boccia and powerchair football. In addition, all participants will receive a free WheelPower t-shirt and packed lunch will be provided too!

“We are really excited to bringing our life changing event to Liverpool for the first time! The sports festivals have been taking place across the UK since 2022 and provide a fantastic opportunity for local people to play and enjoy the many benefits of sport. We hope that by attending the festival and increasing your knowledge of what’s available to you locally you will feel more confident to continue your sporting journey in your own communities. We know that being active and playing sport really does have the power to transform lives, so whether you are a first timer or returning after a break then we would absolutely love to see you in Merseyside next month.” Emily Weller, WheelPower Head of Sport. 

The event is suitable for disabled people of all ages, and in 2023 welcomed 9 year old Teddy from Buckinghamshire. His mum Chloe said, “Teddy has spina bifida and is completely obsessed with sport! It’s been so good seeing him with people of a similar ages and abilities and I would absolutely recommend these festivals to other parents. Teddy hasn’t stopped talking about how it was “the best day ever” and I can’t put into words how lovely that is.”

Another one of the participants last year was Lottie from Sheffield, who said; “I’ve really enjoyed my day with WheelPower and I would definitely recommend these festivals to other disabled people. Playing sport is very important for my mental health and it’s a great way of meeting new people. The sport I enjoyed the most last year was badminton, and that’s now something I would really like to take up locally.”

Finally, we hear from Nigel, 44 from Oxford who sustained a spinal injury in 2023 and enjoys sport as part of his rehabilitation. “These events are very important as you get to meet new people, and do stuff that you wouldn’t normally do. Sport gives you that bit of freedom to actually know you are able to do things you could do before injury. I am so grateful to WheelPower for offering these opportunities out to me and other patients, keeping us progressing and making us better.”

The Merseyside Wheelchair Sports Festival from WheelPower is open to both groups and individuals, and a free booking can be made online https://www.wheelpower.org.uk/activities/merseyside-sports-festival/

For more information about this event please email sport@wheelpower.org.uk or call the WheelPower sports team on 01296 395995.

-ENDS-

 Note to Editors:

 About WheelPower

WheelPower have been providing opportunities for people with physical impairments to take part in sport for over 75 years. Based at Stoke Mandeville Stadium in Buckinghamshire, the Birthplace of the Paralympic movement, WheelPower is at the heart of wheelchair sport. From first-timers to Paralympic medallists, we support and promote participation at all levels. We have seen how playing sport can enrich lives, offering tremendous physical and psychological benefits, whatever your age or ability. Following on from the challenges of the Covid pandemic WheelPower has now returned to in-person events that include the Inter Spinal Unit Games, the National Junior Games and a series of inclusive Wheelchair Sports Festivals throughout the United Kingdom. In 2024 the Sports Festival will be visiting Yorkshire, Wiltshire, Merseyside, Glasgow, London and Buckinghamshire.

As well as the in-person events WheelPower also delivers a substantial online programme, including live exercise classes and videos for disabled people to stay active from their homes. In addition the charity also gifts resistance bands and can support disabled people through the funding of exercise equipment.

 

Website: www.wheelpower.org.uk

To find out more about the full calendar of WheelPower Events please visit https://www.wheelpower.org.uk/sport-events