For visitors who wish to be navigated around the space, please click on the video below for the CP Sport gallery guided tour.

For screen reader users to follow is the wall panel text and audio descriptions for the 3D models or you can download the text as a Microsoft Word document.

Supporting people with cerebral palsy to enjoy physical activities

This gallery celebrates the work of the charity Cerebral Palsy Sport (CP Sport), a National Disability Sport Organisation. CP Sport supports and enables sport and physical activity for people with cerebral palsy. The exhibition shares how the organisation developed, names key pioneers, considers how sports are adapted for people with cerebral palsy, and highlights successful athletes and sports supported by CP Sport. 
 
The modern organisation was created in 2000 but has historic roots back to the 1960s. CP Sport’s history is strongly interlinked with Scope, previously known as the National Spastics Society. Over this period, CP Sport has championed elite athletes and recreational sport players, fostering opportunities for anyone with cerebral palsy.  
 
The gallery features stories and images shared by athletes supported by CP Sport and staff members who ran the organisation. There are also three 3D scanned objects, two of which came from CP Sport’s archive. Working with a diverse group of participants, with support from Royal Holloway University of London and the Sensational Museum, these objects are accompanied by inclusive co-created audio descriptions. These interpretations provide deeper sensory engagement for those without sight. 

Origins of organised sport for people with cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term for neurological damage or developments that result in differences in movement, posture and muscle control. The term encapsulates a broad range of symptoms, meaning two people defined by the term may have significantly different impairments and conditions. Some people with cerebral palsy may face difficulties accessing physical activities but adaptations mean they can take part in a range of recreational and competitive sports, with huge benefits for physical, mental, and social health. 
 
Creating sporting opportunities for people with cerebral palsy can involve changes to rules and equipment to make the activity more inclusive. Early examples include sports that needed fewer modifications, like swimming or athletics. Classification systems have had to be created to account for the range of differences between cerebral palsy athletes’ abilities.  
 
New sports and activities have been created, particularly for those with greater mobility restrictions. Newly developed events include foot-propelled wheelchair racing, club throwing, and the creation of entirely new sports like boccia.     

The history of CP Sport

CP Sport began as part of the National Spastics Society - now known as Scope – in the 1960s. The society oversaw many sports and physical recreation opportunities for people with cerebral palsy, including the first national competition for cerebral palsy sport held at Stoke Mandeville in August 1969. These games were incredibly popular, and the sports wing of the society subsequently grew.  
 
Sport for athletes with cerebral palsy developed internationally, resulting in the foundation of the Cerebral Palsy International Sport and Recreation Association (CP-ISRA) in 1978. Now incorporated into World Abilitysport, CP-ISRA worked closely with CP Sport as both organisations were based in Nottingham.  
 
These organisations were key players in the international development of cerebral palsy sport, and in 1980 cerebral palsy athletes were included in the Paralympics for the first time. As a result, competitive and recreational cerebral palsy sport became more accessible and popular. In 2000, the growth of sport within Scope led to CP Sport members voting to become an independent organisation. 

 
Pioneers and notable names

CP Sport’s achievements have been made possible with the support of dedicated athletes, parents, volunteers, coaches, clubs, and local authorities. Below are some of the notable names that developed 
CP Sport:

Arthur McEdwards was a parent to a child with cerebral palsy, and the National Spastic Society’s Physical Education advisor for over 11 years. He oversaw the first CP Sport events in the late 1960s. 
 
Howard Bailey and Stephen Williams were two early CP Sport leaders. Williams recruited key volunteers and led British teams in international Games in the 1980s. Bailey succeeded Williams and notably spearheaded the development of boccia.  
 
Colin Rains MBE was a founding member of CP Sport, and a pioneer of national and international disability sports. He had a long involvement with CP-ISRA, eventually serving as president of the organisation from the 1990s to the early 2000s.  
 
Shirley Hughes OBE was the first manager of CP Sport when 
the organisation became independent in 2001. She worked for CP Sport until her retirement in 2013.
 
Jill Stidever MBE volunteered for CP Sport for many years and coached swimming for over 60 years. She supported numerous Paralympians, including her daughter Jane, who competed in five Paralympic Games between 1988 and 2004. 
 
Ann Bell worked as the administrator for CP Sport from 2004 
to 2020. She was awarded the CP Sport Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020, reflecting her service and impact on the charity. 

 
Boccia

Boccia was developed for those with greater restrictions to their physical abilities. The sport was introduced to Britain in the late 1970s and was fostered by CP Sport and individuals like Howard Bailey. CP Sport used to oversee boccia in the United Kingdom, and organised competitions and training opportunities. It was first included in the New York 1984 Paralympics. Boccia quickly grew in popularity and is now played by a range of disabled people. 
 
One of the most notable British boccia players is David Smith OBE. Smith began playing boccia at age 11 at Treloar School and College in Alton, Hampshire. In his early athletic career Smith attended many boccia competitions organised by CP Sport. This included every national championship event between 2001 and 2011, after which Boccia England was established as an independent body. He has competed in numerous national and international competitions, including representing Britain at the Summer Paralympic Games between 2008 and 2024. He is Britain’s most decorated boccia player.

Co-created audio description

We learn that boccia has its roots in ancient Greece and Egypt and is thought to be one of the first games ever played. The white ball is thrown first, and the teams take turns to throw or roll their balls to land as close to the white ball as possible. It is simple to learn but requires a lot of skill to play. It is inclusive and easily adaptable. It has been a Paralympic sport since 1984.  

Reflection by David Smith OBE 

I've never been very sentimental about boccia. However, I remember the first set of boccia balls I was given by Treloar. They were a very hard set of Mamaku leather balls from New Zealand which were amazingly high quality and rolled really straight. I won the British championships with them in 2003. They set me on the path to purchasing my own set of Mamakus when I was 15 for £170 and putting them in the tumble drier to soften them!  

 
Robin Hood Games

Events run by CP Sport and CP-ISRA have created more competitive and recreational opportunities for cerebral palsy athletes. There was a range of national and international competitions held in the 1970s to the early 2000s, targeting different age groups and sports.  

The Robin Hood Games were specifically designed by Howard Bailey and Colin Rains in response to the inclusion of CP athletes in the Paralympics, and the wider growth of competitive disability sport. There were concerns that those in the higher classification categories – who did not fit the so-called ‘Olympic ideal’ of athletes’ bodies - would no longer have recreational or competitive opportunities. This new event was oriented away from elite athletes but still focused on competitive activities. The first Robin Hood Games were held in 1989, and more were held in 1993, 1997 and 2001. They were organised with the support of Nottingham City Council and in collaboration with local Universities.

Celebrating achievement

Awards given by CP Sport recognise not just athletic excellence, but the contributions of staff, volunteers, fundraisers, and more. Shirley Hughes OBE, a former manager of CP Sport, reflected that award days were often scheduled alongside training sessions and other activities, allowing many to build strong friendships and support networks.  

Trophies from these awards, like the model below, give us insight into the people celebrated by their peers. 

Athlete’s Athlete of the Year

Co-created audio description

It’s very hard to see the engraving on the cup because it is so tarnished, but when we make it out it says C P Sport Athletes’ Athlete of the Year on the front.  
 
2003 Danny West 
2004 Graeme Ballard 
2005 Tando Bala
2007 Stephen Miller 
2008 Graeme Ballard 
 
Today, CP Sport hosts annual awards, but not an Athletes’ Athlete award. We discover that all the named athletes have had long and illustrious careers in their disciplines and we think that being recognised by their peers in this way would have been significant 
for them on their journey.

 
Athletics

Athletics were part of the first national competition in 1969. Many notable athletes with cerebral palsy have found success in athletic track or field events. 

Esther Cruice (now Jones) PLY is another notable athlete, who competed at the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Paralympic Games in track racing events. She won a gold medal and two silver medals in the 1992 Barcelona Games. Jones joined CP Sport as a child, encouraged by her mother Christine. Christine was a physiotherapist and a CP-ISRA and CP Sport Classifier who knew the importance of disability sport for building community. In 2001, she was recognised by the International Olympic Committee for her contribution as a volunteer to sport. In the same year she served as the first chairwoman of CP Sport. Since retiring from sport, Esther Jones has worked as a coach, sport development officer, and a trustee of CP Sport.
 
Graeme Ballard, is a sprinter from Manchester. He took up athletics at a CP Sport event at the age of 19. He subsequently found great success in T36 sprint events, winning many medals across different national and international competitions. During the London 2012 Paralympic Games, he broke the world record in the 100m and won a silver medal. Ballard retired in 2018, after 14 years of competitive sport. He was inducted into the CP Sport Hall of Fame in the same year. 

Football

A familiar sport to many, football is an important recreational and competitive sport for people with cerebral palsy. 7-a-side football is a modified version of association football, played by athletes with cerebral palsy and other neurological conditions. Adaptations include changes to the field of play, number of players, and no offside rule.  The first international CP football competition was held in 1978 and was part of the Summer Paralympics between 1984 and 2016.  
 
Martin Sinclair PLY found opportunities for disability sport through the professional football club Plymouth Argyle and later played CP football. He represented Great Britain at the London 2012 Paralympic Games in the 7-a-side football event. He also played for England’s national CP football team for 10 years, playing in over 50 international matches. He has coached and co-founded the Disability Football Collective, which works to support representation and personal development pathways for disabled people within football. 
 
Football is a popular sport and has many club and professional leagues for competitive players. Importantly, football can also be made inclusive for a wide range of abilities, such as frame football and powerchair football.  

 

2015 CP-ISRA World Games

A major milestone for CP Sport was the hosting of the CP-ISRA World Games in Nottingham in August 2015. Following a 10-year break, the event hosted 400 athletes from 13 countries. The themes for the Games’ opening and closing ceremonies were ‘Aspirations’ and ‘Transformations’, focusing on athletes’ expectations and training for the competition.  
 
The event was held in Harvey Hadden Stadium, Nottingham, which had historically hosted CP Sport events. The Games were the venue’s inaugural event before re-opening to the public following refurbishment. The event signified the strong historic link between CP Sport and the City of Nottingham. This can even be seen in the Games logo, mascot, and medals, featuring designs that invoke Robin Hood.

Co-created audio description

The shape of the medal looks like a person with swept back hair, or a lion with a flowing mane, and suggests movement. When we examine it more closely, we notice that where the nose would be is the shape of an arrowhead extending slightly on the right-hand side, and in the swirls of the hair is the outline of a hat that reminds us of Robin Hood. There is a suggestion of a hand on a bow that forms part of the circular central motif. 
 
Reading that the Games were held in Nottingham, we now understand why Robin Hood features so prominently. 
 
We learn that CP-ISRA organised these World Games together with CP Sport, which was based in Nottingham. The 2015 Games were the first event to take place in the new Harvey Hadden stadium, before it was open to the public. 

Reflection by Ellie Simpson 

I can still remember now winning and being presented on the podium with my first international medal at the 2015 World CP-ISRA Games. As I stood proudly on the podium, a striking, thick racing green medal ribbon went around my neck. The medal itself was cast into the shape of the World Games logo, which I interpreted as Robin Hood's bow and arrow. My medal was gold as I had come first. Visually, the medal was bold and eye-catching; its unique shape and its beautifully striking ribbon really made it special.
 

Frame running

Frame running (or RaceRunning), was first developed in the 1990s by Danish Paralympian and occupational therapist Connie Hansen and fellow athlete Mansoor Siddiqi. It developed as an alternative to foot propelled wheelchair racing. The running frame is a three-wheel frame with a saddle and body plate. The athlete runs, holding onto a handle of the frame, and steers using the mobility within their hands and/or arms.  
 
Frame running is a new, developing sport, fostered by CP Sport and their national and international partners. CP Sport runs taster sessions and competitive events to create more opportunities to try this sport across the country. 
 
Ellie Simpson is a frame runner introduced to the sport at a CP Sport athletics event. Simpson and fellow athlete Matthew Humphreys were the first frame running athletes to represent England at the 2015 CP-ISRA World Games, where she won gold in the 100 and 200 metres. She repeated this success at the 2018 World Games and picked up an additional silver in the 400 metres. Sport opened up new opportunities for Simpson, and inspired her to attend university, create the charity CP Teens, and become an ambassador for CP Sport. She reflected: 

CP Sport enables people with Cerebral Palsy to reach their sporting potential – I certainly found mine and I am very proud to help other people like me discover their potential.

Thank you

This work has only been possible through collaboration, and we thank the following individuals and organisations: 

• CP Sport for supporting this project and providing access to their collection
• Ellie Simpson, Esther Jones PLY, David Smith OBE, and Martin Sinclair PLY for providing images and feedback on the gallery text
• Shirley Hughes OBE, Doug Williamson, Claire Buckle, Mari Durward-Akhurst, Jill and Jane Stidever, and Ann Bell for supporting research for the gallery and providing historic materials
• World Abilitysport for their continued support
• Museum trainees Simon for research, audio recordings and interpretation; Ben for photogrammetry, and Thomas for audio recordings
• NPHT staff, trainees, work placement students and volunteer David Reynolds for audio recordings

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