14 February 2024

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 2022and provide a fantastic opportunity for local people to play and enjoy the many benefits of sport. We hope that by attending the festival and by 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 it 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 is enjoying playing sport as part of his rehabilitation. “These are events are very important as you get to meet new people, and do different 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 

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