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Celebrate Commonwealth Games legacy at parasports festival

As part of the See My Voice programme, British Blind Sport, UK Deaf Sport and Sport Birmingham will host an exciting parasports festival on Friday 19 August 2022. The free event will allow young disabled people aged 10-20 and their families to try a variety of sports featured at the Commonwealth Games and feel a part of the Birmingham 2022 legacy.

Visually impaired girl playing tennis

Birmingham 2022 has confirmed the largest parasport programme in Commonwealth Games history and intends to set new standards for creativity, inclusivity and sustainability to leave an indelible mark on the region and inspire the next generation.

The See My Voice parasports festival is the perfect opportunity for disabled children and young people in and around Birmingham who have been inspired by the Games to try adapted sports and learn about inclusive sporting opportunities. This year's cohort of See My Voice Young Leaders will host the sports sessions, along with inclusive coaches, to help them put their newly formed leadership skills into practice and act as role models for the young people attending.

Connor Fellows, See My Voice Delivery Officer said:

"The Commonwealth Games promise to be a truly inclusive and unforgettable 11 days of sport. We’re delighted to be giving young people and our Young Leaders the chance to try out the different parasports featured at the Games, with the hope that they'll discover a new interest or hobby that will lead to new opportunities or pathways."

Melanie Piper, See My Voice Lead Officer said:

"We are excited to be working with Sport Birmingham and UK Deaf Sport to host See My Voice’s parasports festival. We look forward to continuing our strategy to ‘scale up‘ the impact of See My Voice and create more opportunities for young people with disabilities to participate in sport and volunteering."

The See My Voice programme enables young disabled people to achieve leadership skills through volunteering. Since its inception in 2018, the programme has supported 159 blind and partially sighted young people to contribute over 2,650 hours of their time to help facilitate sports clubs, events and organisations across the UK. Following this success, the programme was selected by Sport England as one of only five organisations to ‘scale up’. BBS has been collaborating with UK Deaf Sport and Sport Birmingham to empower more young people with other impairments and influence organisations that provide volunteer opportunities to adopt more inclusive practices, with the goal of making disability inclusion the norm in the sports sector and beyond.

Parasports festival event details

  • Date: Friday 19 August 2022
  • Time: 11am-4pm 
  • Where: Nechells Wellbeing Centre, Rupert Street, Birmingham, B7 4AR 

Please fill in this online form to register for the parasports festival

If you have any queries about the event or would like any more information on the project, please contact Connor Fellows, See My Voice Delivery Officer - Email Conner or visit the British Blind Sport website.

Photo credit: British Blind Sport