Celebrating Inclusion and Joy at The PowerHouseGames
Rachel’s blog explores how we used this inclusive sports event to inspire inclusion across schools & organisations of North East London.
Earlier this month, in celebration of International Day of Disabilities, we had the privilege of hosting one of London’s first PowerHouseGames in collaboration with Power2Inspire. A morning filled with fun, laughter and a powerful sense of connection.
The PowerHouseGames are more than just a sporting event. They’re a celebration of inclusion, offering everyone—regardless of age, ability, or background—a chance to compete, bond and support one another. Inspired by founder John Willis’s vision of Inclusion through Sport, these games aim to break down barriers and ensure no one feels excluded from the joy of participation.
John, a Pride of Britain winner who was born without fully formed arms and legs, created the games after his experience competing in a mixed-ability triathlon relay. His mission is clear: no one should miss out on the transformative power of sport. And last week, we witnessed his vision firsthand in Barking and Dagenham.
A Day of Fun, Teamwork and Laughter
Participants, including pupils from Trinity School, Barking Abbey School, James Campbell Primary School, Eastway Care, the Barking and Dagenham Progress Project and of course Care City, came together and formed teams to compete in adapted sports like boccia, sitting netball, new age kurling and walking football.
From primary school students to SEND pupils, around 60 individuals took part, breaking barriers and building bonds through shared activities. One particularly heartwarming moment came when a young participant welled up, overcome with pride at winning her first-ever medal.
“It was a truly delightful event and fantastic to see so many mixed-ability groups coming together and enjoying themselves.
A standout moment was seeing Vedika Lall from Care City return to facilitate this event with her new employers, after attending a previous PowerHouseGames at Goodenough College. It’s a wonderful example of how inclusive sport inspires more inclusion, creating a ripple effect of positivity and participation.”
John Willis, Power2Inspire Founder and Chief Ambassador
Building Confidence through Sport
The games fostered fierce but friendly competition. Our COO, James Sinclair, proved he’s not above playful rivalry, exchanging sass with a 12-year-old competitor and turning sitting netball into an unexpectedly intense contact sport – I’m still nursing the bruises, but it was worth it!
As the event ended, participants were presented with well-earned medals and certificates, marking their achievements. The PowerHouseGames beautifully demonstrate the unifying power of sport, bringing fun, connection and inclusivity that bridge differences and bring communities closer together.
We’re already looking forward to hosting more PowerHouseGames and continuing to champion inclusion in everything we do.
Tips for Hosting your own PowerHouseGames (based on what we learned)
- Allow Plenty of Planning Time
Give yourself slightly longer than 4 weeks to organise! While a four-week turnaround is ambitious, giving yourself a bit more time ensures smoother coordination. This extra time allows for securing the right venue (thank you to Becontree Heath Leisure Centre for hosting us), promoting the event, and finalising logistics.
- Collaborate with Local Partners
Reach out to your local authority or community organisations to help spread the word. We’re so grateful to the School Sports Partnership Team at London Borough of Barking & Dagenham who promoted it to PE Leads and Heads of Department and really boosted participation numbers for us.
- Recruit a Strong Volunteer Team
Build a willing band of volunteers to help – managing 60 young people, moving between sports activities every twenty minutes is quite an achievement! We’re very grateful to Santosh, who was a connection we made during our work developing Winter Support Community events, who came along and kept us on track!
