Free Wheelchair Sports Festival coming to Yorkshire this January
The Yorkshire Wheelchair Sports Festival will welcome disabled people of all ages to the Concord Sports Centre, Sheffield. The event on Wednesday 25 January 2023 is being put on to help people discover the many benefits of playing wheelchair sports.
Organised by WheelPower, the national charity for wheelchair sport, this upcoming event will provide an opportunity for anyone with a physical impairment to play sport, make new friends, and most importantly have fun whilst doing so. During the day participants will have the chance to try a number of different sports. They will be supported throughout by locally based, qualified and experienced coaches. The confirmed sports so far include wheelchair rugby league, badminton, golf and boccia, with more to be announced soon.
Emily Weller, Head of Sport and Physical Activity, WheelPower said:
“We are really looking forward to bringing our WheelPower Sports Festival to the people of Yorkshire for the very first time. After a successful series of events last year we are excited to be visiting new communities and locations in 2023, starting with Sheffield in January.
After coming along to this event we hope that you will feel inspired by wheelchair sport and go away with new skills and knowledge to help you to continue being more active in the future. Sport really does have the power to transform lives, so whether you are trying it for the first time, or returning after a break then we would absolutely love to see you in Yorkshire later this month.”
The WheelPower Sports Festivals support disabled people of all ages to discover wheelchair sport in a friendly and welcoming environment.
Young people such as Dillon, 10 who joined WheelPower in Essex last year said:
“I felt excited about coming along and trying some different wheelchair sports. Playing sports makes me feel happy and I would definitely recommend the festival if you want to try stuff you’ve never done before. I never knew I was good at table tennis before the festival and I’m now going to find a club near me.”
Valerie, 59, experienced a WheelPower Sports Festival for the first time last year. She said:
“I have had a spectacular day of wheelchair sports and tried everything on offer. Watching the joy on peoples' faces, both adults and children, showed me that sport was just as important to them as it was to me. I also met some lovely people, people that I have kept in contact with ever since, proving that you're never too old to make new friends and enjoy playing sports.”
The Yorkshire Wheelchair Sports Festival from WheelPower is open to both groups and individuals, and booking forms are available to download via the charity’s website www.wheelpower.org.uk/sport-events/yorkshire-festival
