Take a look below at the latest additions to our Community display cases at the National Paralympic Heritage Centre and National Spinal Injuries Centre. For more information about the NPHT collections visit our Collections Catalogue page. You can also watch our series of Paralympic heritage collection videos here: What's in our Paralympic collection?

CP Sport Community Case

Labels written by NPHT Museum Trainee, Simon Stiel 

We are excited to share a new display in our Community Case, focusing on CP Sport, the national disability sport organisation for people with cerebral palsy.

This display emerged from a collaboration with CP Sport developed for our Global Virtual Museum. To learn more about CP Sport’s impact and history visit the Global Virtual Museum.

Our temporary displays allow us to showcase other records and items not featured in the gallery. The majority of these items have been loaned by CP Sport to the NPHT. Installed in November 2025 in both the Heritage Centre and National Spinal Injuries Centre, these displays will be visible until Spring 2026.

Display at the Paralympic Heritage Centre

Please find below an audio description of the displays. A text version can be accessed here

1. Athlete's Athlete of the Year Trophy 2003-2008. The names engraved at the bottom include notable athletes such as Danny West and Graeme Ballard. They went on to compete at several Paralympic Games. Athletes voted on who was their athlete of the year. It shows the esteem given to the competitors and the respect they got from their peers. It is significant because the object invites questions as well. We do not know why there are no names after the year 2008. We also do not know who the sponsor C.U.S.S.C was.
   
   
2. 25th anniversary medals of CP-ISRA 1978-2003. Cerebral Palsy International Sport and Recreation Association (CP-ISRA) governed cerebral palsy sport worldwide. They worked closely with CP Sport. One side of the medal shows CP-ISRA’s logo, a sphere of the world covered in grids. The other side shows the different sports that CP-ISRA oversaw, including athletics and racquet sports. The medals commemorate a significant milestone and shows the growth of cerebral palsy sport internationally.
   
   
3. British cerebral palsy athletes and staff at the Seoul 1988 Paralympic Games. Seoul 1988 was the first time in 24 years that the Paralympic Games were hosted in the same city as the Olympics. The team size is notable as this Games was just eight years after cerebral palsy competitors were first allowed to compete at a Paralympic Games. I also find it significant as this photo was given to Douglas Shapland, then chairman of the Spastics Society (now Scope) as a gift. Spastics is a term that is now considered offensive.

Display at the National Spinal Injuries Centre

Please find below an audio description of the displays. A text version can be accessed here

1. CP-ISRA World Games 2015 Nottingham pendant. I chose this pendant because it identifies the existence of specific cerebral palsy sport events. We know that Nottingham was a focal point for cerebral palsy sport, similar to how Stoke Mandeville is the birthplace of the Paralympics.
   
   
2. CP-ISRA World Games 2015 Nottingham gold medal. The medal has a unique design. Usually medals are solid circles with images engraved into them. This medal is an image itself, depicting Robin Hood’s hat at the top with the arrow facing right. The asymmetrical design also envelops the hat. It looks like a wave. Robin Hood indicates further connections to Nottingham.
   
   
3. Robin Hood Cerebral Palsy World Games medal, 1997. The logo for this event is a Robin Hood figure wearing a hat and shooting an arrow. The back shows the crest of Nottingham Trent University. I like the symbol as not only is it associated with Nottingham, but it is also associated with the Robin Hood myth of the underdog, helping the underprivileged.
   
   
4. Robin Hood Cerebral Palsy World Games lace square, 1997. I chose this object as it shows the promotion and supporters of the World Games in Nottingham. The banner is also showcasing local craftmanship. There is a tradition of lace making in Nottingham. Perhaps it was made in the same area for the Games?

Thank you

With the generous support from The Heritage Fund and the Museums Association Esmee Fairbairn Collections Fund, we are committed to developing collections across all five Paralympic National Disability Sports Organisations from 2023 to 2026.

   

How can you get involved?

Do you have stories, memories or photographs that relate to any part of the journey associated with the development of the Paralympic Movement? If so, please get in touch by emailing [email protected] or calling us on 01296 489929.