Introduction
In April 2024, a pivotal conversation at a local network meeting brought together 20 Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) providers from Perry Barr and Ladywood, Birmingham. During this meeting, it was highlighted that there was a lack of regular, accessible spaces for SEND young people and families in these areas.
From this conversation, the idea to organise a tailored sports event for SEND young people emerged, reflecting a needs-led approach to delivery and aiming to build long-term sustainable opportunities.
Initial Concept and Challenges
The initial idea was to host an inclusive sports festival. However, several key Locally Trusted Organisations (LTOs) expressed their concerns. They indicated that a general sports day where their young people would join in with others could pose challenges. Due to sensitivities around trust and family concerns, they preferred a dedicated event exclusively for SEND young people, addressing their unique needs and fostering a safe environment.
Building Partnerships and Planning
In response, the Bring it on Brum! team reached out across the StreetGames partner network. Access Sport and Midland Mencap stepped forward, aligning with the vision of creating sustainable, ongoing activities rather than a one-off event. The first step was to bring together LTOs to explore how best to support local SEND communities. These discussions centered around capacity-building, with an emphasis on providing training and equipment to support long-term development.
Access Sport soon identified a funded opportunity to host their first inclusive sports day in Birmingham and the momentum gathered around this initiative led to the selection of Nechells as the event location. With Midland Mencap’s resources in place, the event was scheduled during the school holidays and promoted it through the StreetGames LTO network and the Bring It On Brum! parent network.
Event Delivery: Access Sport Inclusion Day
Access Sport played a key role in spearheading the initiative, bringing in local sports providers and facilitating partnerships. StreetGames connected additional partners, such as Ackers Adventure and The Andrew Simpson Foundation, both of which had funding and capacity to offer ongoing activities for SEND young people. Bring it on Brum! further leveraged their connections with family hubs and promoted the event by linking to the Paralympic athletes competing in the Paris 2024 Games, securing additional funding through the #MyTomorrow campaign and media support to raise awareness.
On Friday, 30th August 2024, the inclusive sports event took place, featuring a range of adapted and challenging activities tailored to the needs of SEND participants. These included: Ergo bikes, Climbing walls, Disc golf, Archery, Badminton, Judo.
Volunteers and support staff ensured that the event was smoothly run and accessible to all participants. Each LTO provided transportation for their groups and parents and staff stayed with the young people throughout the event. The activities were carefully designed to foster inclusion and engagement, allowing families and young people to rotate between stations in a safe, supportive environment.
Over 50 young people attended the event, with approximately 25% of them coming through the Bring it on Brum and StreetGames network.
Wider Context: Addressing Local Needs and Long-Term Sustainability
This event was designed based on the specific needs expressed by local SEND families and LTOs. A critical theme raised by these groups was the importance of trust. Parents wanted reassurance that the activities would cater to their children’s unique needs and be safe. For SEND young people, barriers such as new environments, unfamiliar people and activities could be daunting. Therefore, trust in the delivery, style and relevance of the event was paramount.
The event design was also informed by broader national research. The Youth Insight Summary Report from StreetGames, based on feedback from 1,000 young voices, highlights that young people from low-income and underserved communities face significant inequalities in opportunity and participation. Many of the barriers they face are both material (e.g., cost, transport, access to facilities) and psychological, with the cost-of-living crisis exacerbating these challenges. This research helped shape the event, ensuring it was sensitive to these broader issues.
The Importance of Connecting and Collaborative Support
The event exemplified the power of collaboration. Access Sport, StreetGames, Midland Mencap and several local sports providers came together to deliver a successful day that met the needs of SEND families. Volunteers, staff, and coaches ensured that the activities were delivered in the right style—by skilled, compassionate youth coaches in a supportive, engaging manner.
Long-Term Sustainable Impact
The event was not a standalone initiative; it was part of a larger vision to create sustainable local support. Access Sport will continue to engage with the SEND disability forum and LTOs in Perry Barr and Ladywood to ensure that local connections to sport are maintained and expanded. The potential for workforce development is also being explored, ensuring that local coaches and volunteers are trained to support SEND young people in an ongoing capacity.
StreetGames and Access Sport are now looking at broader partnership funding opportunities. Through our connections with Ackers Adventure and The Andrew Simpson Foundation, we have identified additional funding streams and resources to further support SEND provision across Birmingham. There is also potential for StreetGames to support Access Sport’s national advocacy work on disability inclusion.
Insight and Evidence of Impact
Initial feedback from the event has been positive and there is scope for further research and insight development if the SEND disability forum wishes to explore this. StreetGames is well-positioned to support future evaluations and gather evidence of long-term impact.
Conclusion
This case study demonstrates the importance of a needs-led, community-driven approach to service delivery. By listening to the voices of SEND families and local organisations, we were able to create an event that was both impactful and sustainable. The collaboration between Access Sport, StreetGames, and other partners has laid the foundation for future inclusive sports activities in Birmingham, ensuring that SEND young people have ongoing opportunities to participate in meaningful, adapted sports experiences.