Celebrating 10 Years of Preserving Paralympic History The National Paralympic Heritage Trust (NPHT) marked their inaugural decade at an exclusive event in London this week. Hosted by the Crown Estate, the NPHT celebrated their impact in preserving stories and collections significant to the history of the Paralympic Movement. They also reiterated the importance of promoting a greater understanding of disability through their work and their continued dedication to what is an ongoing Paralympic legacy. Names from across from the heritage sector and Paralympic Movement gathered at The Crown Estate offices in London, to hear from Chair of Trustees Phil Dart and CEO Vicky Hope-Walker who shared the impact of their work, especially around empowering young disabled people to improve access to museums and provide meaningful pathways into work. Then followed some heartfelt words from 16-time Paralympic medal-winner and Honorary Vice President Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson: ‘We stand on the shoulders of everyone else who’s gone before us. Having a collection we’re able to share with the world and really celebrate where the Movement has come from, is something that we should all be incredibly proud of. Having somewhere that is the home for all these things is so important so that the memories, the emotion of the Games, and the knowledge is not lost’. NPHT staff then shared a selection of unique items from their collection including some which exemplify the role of influential women - such as Jean Stone and Joan Scruton – instrumental in the growth of the Paralympic Movement. Also on display were the latest galleries to go live as part of the trust’s ambitious ‘Global Virtual Museum’ project, accompanied by a 3D scanning demonstration by Museum Trainee, Ben Laferlla, showing how the trust has been preserving collection items in the digital space. The event also marked the launch of NPHT’s official legacy campaign; inviting supporters to consider leaving a gift in their Will for NPHT as a way to contribute and create their own piece of history. For more about this visit: https://www.paralympicheritage.org.uk/giftsinwills Karen Baines, Marketing Director at The Crown Estate, commented, "We are so proud to support the National Paralympic Heritage Trust and it was great to see our offices full of incredible individuals who have paved the way for future athletes and Paralympians. Our commitment to accessibility and inclusion includes looking back at the challenges that we have faced in this area to inform how we should navigate existing and future challenges. Acknowledging and celebrating Paralympic heritage is vital to our ongoing journey in improving access for all." Since 2015, the Trust has: Existed as the only museum dedicated solely to Paralympic heritage. Opened a dedicated Heritage Centre (2019) in Stoke Mandeville, the birthplace of the Paralympics, with additional displays at the National Spinal Injuries Centre. Welcomed over 1 million visitors from across the UK and internationally. Preserved 2,000 newly donated Paralympic artefacts and made 20,000 historical records accessible online (in partnership with Buckinghamshire Archives). Supported 30 work placements and 4 paid part-time traineeships for local disabled people. Recorded 60+ oral histories from Paralympic athletes and pioneers Became the world’s first ‘symbol-friendly museum’ in Feb 2025 Curated 7 regional exhibitions and 6 virtual tours, an interactive Digital Explorations Museum and 7 unique online virtual galleries as part of the NPHT’s Global Virtual Museum. But for CEO Vicky Hope-Walker, it's the personal transformations that matter most. "We've watched young disabled people discover skills they never knew they had through our project work and digital programmes," she says. "We've seen our Museum Trainees become confident museum guides, oral historians and teachers. We've achieved lots as an organisation, but it’s been made far richer by the communities that have worked with us and shaped us along the way." Of course, many of these achievements would not have been possible without the Trust’s funders and supporters who play a crucial role in the preservation of Paralympic heritage, and the NPHT are incredibly grateful for their ongoing support. Promoting a Greater Understanding of Disability and Empowering Disabled People The Trust's impact extends beyond the National Paralympic Heritage Centre, opened in 2019 at Stoke Mandeville Stadium. Their Global Virtual Museum launched in July 2024 allows the early history of the Paralympic Movement to be accessible from anywhere, at any time. It also showcases meaningful project work with local SEND schools and partner museums in Buckinghamshire and Hampshire where students learned skills in curation, 3D scanning and photogrammetry. This is an online museum curated in the voice of those with a lived experience of disability and therefore includes co-created audio descriptions and interpretations of historical objects in every gallery. ‘It’s given our students a chance to learn digital skills that are specific, specialised and very different than they would usually be exposed to…fantastic for their development, not just in terms of IT knowledge but for social and emotional confidence’ said a teacher, from Pebble Brook School in Buckinghamshire. One adult learning support leader said, ‘Our group were able to see that people with disabilities – who looked like they did – could be heroes too’. "We're not just preserving history," says Hope-Walker. "Every person who discovers something new about disability sport, every business that becomes more inclusive, every young person who finds their confidence – that's the legacy." An Ongoing Legacy The NPHT is one of many organisations quietly revolutionising the approach to accessibility and inclusion – in line with their 'Becoming Seamlessly Inclusive' strategy - and have been sharing their practice with other museums and businesses. As the Trust enters its second decade, plans are already underway for three new virtual galleries, working with SEND students in London and partnering with Dwarf Sports Association UK. Meanwhile, the Heritage Trail app launched last summer allows locals to continue to explore Paralympic history around Stoke Mandeville independently, and on their own terms. Of the next ten years, Vicky Hope-Walker says: ‘Inclusion will remain at the heart of everything we do, offering work placements and traineeships and career paths for young people with SEND and neurodiversity. Building on our wonderful community, sporting and funding partnerships we would like to co-create a fully accessible, immersive experience using our fantastic media collections, commissioning disabled artist interpretations and ensuring full sensory needs.’ The National Paralympic Heritage Trust is proud to celebrate a milestone that is only the beginning, with heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been a part of that journey so far and we're excited to see the many things we will achieve together in the future. Manage Cookie Preferences