The ‘Invincible Games’, is the annual sports festival organised by Active Essex and the Multi-School Council. This year’s event tied in celebrations with the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic games.
Hosted at Basildon Sporting Village, the games saw over 350 students from 18 special schools in Essex take part in a wide range of inclusive events and sporting activities, including Boccia, Seated Volleyball and Para Athletics, with all activities being decided on by the students.
The inclusive event is designed for students with special needs or disabilities who are encouraged to compete. The day celebrates difference and helps provide students a positive experience towards physical activity.
In attendance were special guests including GB Wheelchair Basketball player Siobhán Fitzpatrick spoke to the young people whilst helping to open the ceremony. She also went round each activity, giving it a go for herself, showing the students anything’s possible She also discussed her paralympic hopes and got involved in activities with the children. Representatives from Team GB’s Get Set programme who developed the Path to Paris programme were also in attendance to support the day and talk to teachers and students. The free Path to Paris programme has worked with Team GB and Paralympics GB to develop and provide resources to families and schools in the lead up to Paris 2024 to get help get them active.
There was also Path to Paris themed arts and crafts activities, DJing and a French themed fruit market stall for the students to enjoy.
As part of the programme, young leaders from a host of different schools are encouraged to help the coaches facilitate to help develop personal skills and their knowledge of the Sport and Physical Activity Sector and its career prospects. Over 50 young leaders helped at this year’s Invincible games from four different schools across the county.
The Invincible Games is a London 2012 legacy event that aims to inspire young people through the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic Games, the new Active Essex ‘Move With Us’ campaign furthers this commitment to inspiring the next generation, helping them find their active and increasing their positive attitudes towards physical activity.
The Invincible Games is an example of how it can be done. It’s all about celebrating that anybody can play sport. We’ve got people from social care, health and education, because if we want to make a difference to inclusion it’s about involving everybody in the system. We’ll also never know what’s working and what’s not if we don’t speak to young people and days like this have evolved over the years thanks to the power of youth voice, which should be happening everywhere because if we really are serious about making improvements then it has to come from the people on the ground.
Kierran Pierce, Multi Schools Council Lead
It gives me a lot of confidence and brings me happiness. Trampolining is my sport and whenever I feel down it makes me happier as its comforting for me. My advice would be to just give different activities a try as there’s no point wasting your time, it’s never to young to try something especially when it comes to sports.
Young Leader
The Invincible Games are much more than children just taking part in physical activity. They help to build young peoples like skills, supporting their confidence, resilience, teamwork, and creativity. The healthy competition helps build friendships across schools, also supporting their mental wellbeing.
To read more about the Invincible Games and their legacy, visit; https://www.activeessex.org/school-games/#:~:text=The%20Essex%20Invincible%20School%20Games,others%20and%20represent%20their%20school
