Paralympic Heritage

A shiny navy blue frame runner is display on top of a white plinth topped with blue running track. In the background you can see 4 exhibition information panels displayed on a white wall. There is a title above them and some leaflets underneath the forth panel.

We’re delighted to launch our new display: 'Celebrating cerebral palsy sport at Harvey Hadden Stadium', in partnership with CP Sport.

It features athlete stories, photos & a frame runner you can see and touch. Open until 15 May.

For more info & audio: paralympicheritage.org.uk/Event/celebr...

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A text statement reads: We have known Charmaine Hooper for 12yrs, since our establishment, and are deeply saddened by her tragic death on a personal level. We extend our heartfelt condolences to those close to her. On a professional level, the NPHT and the Paralympics have lost one of their biggest heritage ambassadors. Someone who truly understood the value of the past alongside the future. Charmaine supported our work with frankness and integrity, and we shall deeply miss her guidance and company.

We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of World Abilitysport CEO Charmaine Hooper. She was a friend, a prominent voice in the world of disability sport and a committed advocate for preserving our Paralympic heritage.

Our CEO Vicky Hope-Walker shared this statement:

A page in a scrapbook. A black and white photograph of Kenyan athlete Godfrey Ithongo in his wheelchair, arm outstretched ready to bowl. There are various press cuttings around this, relating to bowls, wheelchairs and the then 'Commonwealth Paraplegic Games'.

Love this! Here's a pic of of our Super Bowl...

Press cuttings gifted to us by Paralympian Sally Haynes, showing athlete Godfrey Ithongo practicing for a Super Bowl. He would go on to represent Kenya in Lawn Bowls and Athletics events at the 1980, 1984 and 1988 Summer Paralympic Games.

✨ Do you have objects, photos, or stories connected to a Winter Games?
✨ Are you planning to attend the upcoming Games?

If you answered yes to any of the above, we’d love to hear from you!

📩 Message us or email our Comms Officer, Kat, at kat.mace@paralympicheritage.org.uk

#WinterParalympics

A black and white photograph of an athlete ice sledging on the ice in the early days of the Winter Paralympic Movement.

❄️ Just two months to go until the Winter Paralympic Games kicks off in Italy and we need your help! 🏛️🎓

Far less is known about the history of the Winter Paralympic Games than the Summer Games… and we want to change that 💙♿

✨ Do you know someone who’s competed in a Winter Paralympics?

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Badminton Badminton will be included in the Paralympic Games for the first time ever in Tokyo 2020.

Did you know? Badminton made its Paralympic debut at Tokyo 2020 - and so did Krysten!

Learn more on our website: www.paralympicheritage.org.uk/badminton

3️⃣ "Sport can be serious. Life can be serious. Finding joy in the journey has made me a better athlete".

A huge thank you to Krysten for two inspiring sessions, and to everyone who joined and asked such brilliant questions!

2️⃣ "Everyone gets nervous. What matters is finding the thing that helps you overcome the nerves. For me, that's talking to people".

1️⃣ Surround yourself with the right people. "I've never felt I had too many barriers, I've had great people around me".

Krysten Coombs is pictured in profile, grimacing on the court in Paris. White text over the top of the image reads: 'Sport can be serious... finding joy in the journey has made me a better athlete'.

💥 On Friday, we had the privilege of hearing from @paralympicsgb.bsky.social’s incredible Krysten Coombs, who shared some amazing moments from his badminton career so far. 🏸

Missed our 'Meet the Paralympian' event?

Here are 3 pearls of Coombs wisdom especially for you...

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A photograph of Jean Stone smiling. She is wearing a cream jacket, pearls and a gold brooch, with a black bag strap over her shoulder. The logos of the NPHT and supporting organisations (as written in the post) are shown above and below the photo.

🎨 We're seeking a community-engaged artist with lived experience of disability, to work with young women on a creative response to the Jean Stone collection, for an exhibition at Wycombe Arts Centre in March.

For more info and to apply visit: www.paralympicheritage.org.uk/news/call-fo...

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A photograph of the Global Virtual Museum display at the National Paralympic Heritage Centre. A touch-screen sits on an angled panel in front of a yellow wall which says Global Virtual Museum. To the right there are metallic buttons which you can use to navigate the Museum.

A close up of the screen showing the foyer of the Global Virtual Museum. The screen shows a yellow button which says 'Tap screen to start'.

It’s in! 🎉

Visitors can now explore our Global Virtual Museum from inside the Heritage Centre.

We can’t wait for our after-school visitors to discover this new addition! They can navigate themselves, or select to enjoy a guided virtual tour.🏛️🎓

#MuseumTech #VirtualTour #FamilyFun

Four archers line up, two from the Royal Star and Garter Home and two from Stoke Mandeville. They are seated in wheelchairs, behind a white line and with white circular columns in the background.

Today, we honour the veterans of the Paralympic Movement, and remember their comrades who never returned home.

Post WW2 Stoke Mandeville Hospital was home to veterans and civilians with spinal cord injuries. In 1948, they faced veterans from the Star & Garter Home at the 1st Stoke Mandeville Games.

We 100% agree! We've uncovered things we'd previously missed with the tactile interrogation of each object this process has allowed us. E.g. users discovered that the epaulettes on Dina Murdie's goalball referee shirt in our British Blind Sport Gallery, were removeable to adapt for different sports.

Global Virtual Museum Explore the history of the Paralympics and interact with inspirational Paralympic stories from around the world.

We're committed to co-creation at the NPHT, and developing these sensory descriptions has been incredibly enriching. One participant even described it as “one of the best experiences of her life” - and we couldn’t agree more!

Updates on the way at: www.paralympicheritage.org.uk/global-virtu...

A photograph of those who attended the workshop in a large meeting room with wooden flooring and a white dividing wall. The team from Mitsubishi Corporation London Branch, Mike Brace and his guide dog King, Mark Chamberlen, NPHT team members Emma Carroll and Samuel Goldstone-Brady and Andy Shipley and his guide dog Dodger.

We teamed up with Mitsubishi Corporation London Branch, Paralympians and consultants, to co-create sensory descriptions for items in the Japan Gallery of our Global Virtual Museum, helping blind and partially sighted visitors to experience each object. 💫

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Krysten Coombs launches himself across the badminton court in the final at Paris 2024. Text over the top of the image reads: Meet the Paralympian Krysten Coombs. Online Event. Friday 5th December 2025. 11am for schools and home-educated children, key stages one, two and three. 1pm for adults, universities and secondary schools, key stage four and above.

🚨 We're delighted to welcome two-time Paralympic medallist
Krysten Coombs as the next speaker in our 'Meet the Paralympian' event series!

📅 Join us on Friday 5th December, as Krysten reflects on his incredible badminton career so far.

Places are FREE:
paralympicheritage.org.uk/Pages/Events/

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NPHT team, Heart of Bucks trustees and High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire Pippa Kirkbride, in the National Paralympic Heritage Centre. (Photo credit: Heart of Bucks).

Thank you Heart of Bucks! 💜

We welcomed the High Sheriff of Bucks, Pippa Kirkbride, and the Heart of Bucks team to our Heritage Centre and were thrilled to receive a certificate recognising our charitable services to the county. 🏛️🎓♿

For more visit: www.paralympicheritage.org.uk/news/a-visit...

A bit of information about boccia using widgit, a symbol based language. The information says; Boccia is a sport that everyone can play. Players sit in wheelchairs or chairs to play the game. Boccia is played in teams. A team can have up to 6 players.

Two young girls are seated in wheelchairs, during a game of Boccia. One of the girls is preparing to throw a red ball.

Join us at our Heritage Centre this Saturday, as part of Stoke Mandeville Stadium's Big Open Weekend! 🏛️🎓

We'll be running FREE boccia drop-in sessions:
*09:00-10:00 SEND families
*10:00-12:00 general public

To learn more about #boccia beforehand, visit: www.paralympicheritage.org.uk/boccia ♿

Paralympian Mike Brace is pictured wearing a white sports bib with the number 55 on it, black sunglasses and a white headband. He wears thick gloves and a multicoloured tracksuit top and holds ski poles in his hands.

5 months to go!❄️

The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games will mark 50yrs since the first Paralympic Winter Games!

Hackney-born Mike Brace, was selected as one of just six skiers on the British team!

🎿 Find out more about Mike here: www.paralympicheritage.org.uk/mike-brace

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Collections items relating to Jean Stone on display.

Guests at the 10th birthday reception in London

Paralympians Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Martin McElhatton.

Paralympians Lora Fachie OBE and Darren Harris.

📢 Celebrating 10rs of the National Paralympic Heritage Trust!

To our incredible community of Paralympians, partners, funders & friends - thank you. We can't wait to see what we’ll achieve together in the next 10yrs and beyond.

More here: www.paralympicheritage.org.uk/news/celebra...
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A black and white image of one of our trainees listing the contents of one of our archive boxes. Gold text over the top reads: 'Help us to preserve and protect Paralympic history. Donate today at www.paralympicheritage.org.uk/donate

Want to help us on our mission to protect and preserve our incredible Paralympic heritage?

Follow us, share our posts, and donate if you can at: www.paralympicheritage.org.uk/donate

🏛️🎓♿

@sportingheritage.bsky.social #NSHD #CollectionsAtRisk

A black and white image of some our archive boxes on shelving units, with gold text over the top which reads: 'Preserving history take time, care and funding. and we're the only museum dedicated entirely to Paralympic heritage'.

It's a constant challenge for us to raise the vital funds to catalogue and store these unique collections, each one significant to the history of the Paralympic Movement and its pioneers.

Without us, the only dedicated Paralympic museum, tens of thousands of items may have been lost.
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A black and white image of athlete Margaret Maughan, firing an arrow in archery. On top there is gold text which reads: 'From 104 to 155 unique collections in just 2 years. Each one telling stories that might otherwise have been lost.'

In May 2023, our archives consisted of 104 collections, each one varying from just one item to hundreds of items.

2 years on, that's grown to 155 collections - an increase of 50% of what we'd acquired in our first 6 to 7 years - and forever growing!

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We'd love to hear what other organisations in the sector are doing to ensure inclusion in the workplace, so please do share with us!

#NowIsTheTime 🏛️🎓♿

This involved a focus on 'Diversifying the Workforce', providing a number of work placement opportunities and four part-time paid museum traineeships, over 3 years.

The impact has been clear, not only in the opportunities created, but in the learning and growth we’ve experienced as an organisation.

A photo of the 13 members of the NPHT team. They are standing in a sports hall, wearing black and white NPHT branded polo shirts and are smiling. Behind them is a white gazebo with the NPHT logo on it.

The NPHT is proud to champion truly inclusive workplaces.

In 2023, we launched our 'becoming seamlessly inclusive' strategy which included a programme which sought to address a distinct lack of employment opportunities for disabled people in our local area. ♿

#ParalympicHeritage #NIW2025 🏛️🎓

A black and white photograph of Philip Lewis playing table tennis at Stoke Mandeville in 1963. He is in a wheelchair wearing a dark polo shirt and black rimmed glasses. He holds the table tennis racket in his right hand.

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Philip Lewis MBE, a true pioneer in Paralympic sport and a lifelong advocate for disability inclusion.

Our thoughts are with his family.

Read our full tribute to Philip’s remarkable life here: 👉 www.paralympicheritage.org.uk/news/philip-...

#OnThisDay in 2012, the @paralympicsgb.bsky.social mixed coxed four brought home gold at Dorney.

Adaptive rower Naomi Riches MBE shared her incredible memories of race day here: www.paralympicheritage.org.uk/naomi-riches

#Rowing #Paralympics @britishrowing.bsky.social @britishblindsport.org.uk

The London 2012 Paralympics opened #OnThisDay 13 years ago, in the stadium which would stage so many unforgettable moments!

Here, Eva Loeffler describes the atmosphere when Jonnie Peacock raced in the Men's T44 100m final.

Full oral history here: www.paralympicheritage.org.uk/oral-history...

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