The festival aims to create a fun and welcoming environment in order to encourage those of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to take part in activities they may never have tried before, in the hope that they will be inspired to participate for the long term.

This year the event, which is tailored to young people and children of all abilities with a special focus on disability friendly activities, will incorporate social distancing. Where activities are held, measures will be taken to comply with government guidance including social distancing, limiting numbers of participants and account for any other requirements of individual.

Parents and carers agree that the Sports Festival helps to get those they care for to try new things with everyone saying more schools and community groups should take part.

One parent from a previous festival in 2019 commented: “My son has an LTC (juvenile arthritis) and it was a lovely opportunity to show him you can do anything you want to. He specifically said he thought it was lovely that there were people with all different kinds of disabilities there.”

The event is unique in that it is the largest of its kind in Birmingham and the surrounding areas. It has several high-level partnerships, including that with Aston Villa Football Club, and other specialist sport/activities delivery organisations in the region.

Additional partner CareTech Charitable Foundation is also involved this year as they have been since 2019. CareTech Foundation is a grant giving organisation that funds organisations that deliver meaningful impact to communities in the UK and support the social care sector.

“The Inclusive Sports Festival not only gives people with disabilities the chance to try something new, but also helps change preconceptions about what they think that disabled people can do. We were delighted to be able to contribute to the event this year and we are so excited to reaffirm our support for the fantastic work of Sport Birmingham and the inspirational effect they have for the disabled community,” said Jonathan Freeman (pictured), Chief Executive of the CareTech Foundation.

The inaugural Birmingham Inclusive Sports Fest took place in 2013 and saw over a hundred people of all ages take part in 40 different taster sessions across a variety of inclusive sports. Since this time the festival has touched the lives of a further 1800 people, resulting in some fantastic feedback and stories.

The Birmingham Disability Sports Forum was established to help improve, grow and raise the profile of disability-friendly recreational activities across the city by delivering the annual Birmingham Inclusive Sports Fest, a campaign that delivers a week-long festival of inclusive sport and physical activity taster sessions for members of the public to participate in.

You can find testimonials about the past events here