Sport Birmingham has confirmed the Birmingham Inclusive Sports Festival will go ahead in 2020, offering children with disabilities the chance to take part in sport. The event will enter its eighth year, thanks to a partnership with the CareTech Foundation.
The Birmingham Inclusive Sports Festival offers free fun and family-friendly sports taster days for individuals with a range of impairments. The festival started with 137 participants in 2013, and has grown ever since, with over 500 participants taking part last year.
At the 2019 festival, 84% of those who took part said it had given them the chance to try a new sport for the first time. Aston Villa Football Club were just one of the 25 different providers who offered sports activities at the festival. These included archery, inclusive tennis, wheelchair basketball and table cricket. The event highlighted the importance of inclusivity in sports, and was a huge hit amongst those who came.
The CareTech Foundation is an independent grant making and gift-giving charity, founded and funded by CareTech Holdings Plc, one of the country’s leading providers of specialist care. The foundation donated £2,500 to the event in 2019 and has been confirmed as a partner for the 2020 event.
It is not just those with disabilities who benefit. Parents and carers agreed that the Sports Festival helped to get those they care for to try new things with participants saying more schools and community groups should take part.
One parent 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.”
Jonathan Freeman, Chief Executive of the CareTech Foundation said: “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.”
Amy Bird, Sport Birmingham Senior Partnerships Manager said: “The Inclusive Sports Festival is a real highlight of our year at Sport Birmingham, and it is such a boost to know that our partners continue to see the good that the event can do. We are thrilled to have the CareTech Foundation as a partner for 2020 and with their help and generosity we want to see the event go from strength to strength next year.”
About the CareTech Foundation
Founded in 2017 by CareTech PLC, the CareTech Foundation is an independent grant-making foundation. The Foundation delivers meaningful impact to communities in the UK and overseas by supporting and championing the social care sector, care workers and those living in care.
@CareTechFdn
About Sport Birmingham
Sport Birmingham is an independent charity that uses the power of sport and physical activity to improve lives. Uniquely positioned to work in partnership with a wide range of public, charitable and private sector organisations, Sport Birmingham brings inclusive and accessible activities to communities facing disadvantage by leveraging investment, building capacity, partnership working and sharing local knowledge and insight.
@SportBirmingham
