Free wheelchair sports festival coming to Tidworth

Organised by WheelPower, the national charity for wheelchair sport, the FREE Festival will provide local disabled people with a life changing opportunity to experience a number of different sports, whilst learning from a brilliant team of coaches here in Wiltshire.

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. Confirmed sports so far include wheelchair basketball, fencing and volleyball, with more to be announced soon. In addition, all participants will receive a free WheelPower t-shirt and lunch will be provided too!

As well as enjoying the many sports on offer the WheelPower Sports Festivals are mostly about having fun, making new friends and discovering more about the opportunities available to continue playing sport locally.

Conor Harris, Sports Events and Development Officer, WheelPower, said, “We are really looking forward to bringing our WheelPower Sports Festival to the people of Wiltshire and delivering a fantastic event for the community. Our one-day festival will give you a great insight into wheelchair sports and the opportunities available nearby to continue your journey.

"By attending our event we hope that you will feel inspired and go away with new skills and knowledge to help you to be 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 Wiltshire next month.”

Shauna brought her 5 year old daughter to a recent WheelPower Festival, and she said. "This is the first time we’ve come to anything like this, and it’s been absolutely amazing from start to finish. I’ve never seen my daughter move so much! She can do everything here and do it independently too without needing my help. Seeing everyone else in wheelchairs has brought the confidence out of her and she’s just rolled with it and got involved."

Anne attended the WheelPower Festival looking to develop her skills in wheelchair tennis and whilst trying many of the other sports for the very first time. "I may have come to it in my 70s but I realise that I need to keep moving and it’s been a real surprise today. I’ve loved everything about the Sports Festival, I’ve got to try lots of new things and use a sports wheelchair at the same time. Once you come along to an event like this and tried it you will come back again and again."

The Wiltshire 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/wiltshire-festival

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