The first inclusive Try Games on Sunday 3 June saw over 500 competitors raising over £6,500 for Three Ways Special School on a glorious sunny day in Odd Down!
Over 100 families and 500 participants took part in a day of sports and inclusive activities at the Try Games. The challenges included running on custard, a messy but fun challenge, Cross Fit, fun runs and adapted martial arts. Local providers including Bath Rugby Foundation and Bath Frame Running, Wheels 4 All and Nova Sports and Coaching with Team Bath helped children and adults of all ages and abilities to have a go.
The day allowed siblings, friends and the community to take part in adapted sports and activities, with children diving into a pool of orbies, challenging each other to see how many squats they can do in a minute and building sensory towers of Weetabix. It was wonderful for students from Three Ways to be able to use the adapted cycles, try flamenco dancing and frame running with siblings, who loved the challenge of trying something new and being able to take part in something only their their siblings, who may experience additional challenges normally can.
All photos by Nick Cole Photography
Matt Knibb, Head of PE at Three Ways, said, “The day helped everyone to embrace an active lifestyle in the many a varied guises on show at the games. It’s my philosophy that everyone has a perfect sport and it’s just a matter of finding what it is that ‘moves’ them. In presenting all these at a festival of activity was a great opportunity for our pupils, and other members of the community, to find the activity which is accessible to them but also inspiring and fulfilling.”
The funds raised from the day will all help Three Ways to continue to grow and develop a programme of lunchtime and after school activities accessible to all the students. The school will be able to bring in specialist practitioners to work to find each child’s sporting ability or love and help them to develop this.
Ciara Davies, lead organizer of the games and parent, added, “It was an amazing day, the sun shone, the community supported us to the full and our ambition of having a fully inclusive and totally accessible sporting event was achieved. We were able to showcase so many accessible sports and activities and show children and their parents what an amazingly diverse range of activities are available locally.”
Jenny from Nova Sports and Coaching, said, “We had so much fun at the Try Games and it was fantastic to be able to offer activities for everyone, regardless of their ability. Being able to offer the same opportunities to everyone is so important to us and the Try Games really encapsulated that.”