Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 launches INSPIRE, bringing lessons of resilience into UK classrooms
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, visits STEM lesson at Ninestiles, an Academy led by Dr Dave Henson and Josh Boggi where pupils experienced the real-world application of prosthetic design.
Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 today launched INSPIRE, a new national education programme giving schools across the UK free access to curriculum-aligned resources inspired by the Invictus Games and the stories of its competitors.
Developed in partnership with The Education Exchange West Midlands and schools, colleges and Multi-Academy Trusts across the region, INSPIRE has been designed by teachers for learners from Early Years through to Key Stage 5 to connect young people with the experiences and values at the heart of the Invictus Games
The programme offers ready-to-teach lessons across Maths, English, STEM, Art, Performing Arts, Sport and PSHE, all mapped to the national curriculum.
The resources are now live on the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 website and are available free of charge to schools across the UK, extending the impact of the Games beyond the sporting arena and into classrooms ahead of Birmingham hosting the Invictus Games in 2027.
The launch was marked by a visit from Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Patron of the Invictus Games Foundation, to Ninestiles, an Academy in Birmingham, where he met pupils, teachers and former Invictus Games competitors and saw first-hand how the programme can be brought to life in schools.
During the visit, The Duke joined pupils and former competitors Clare Gibson (from Oxfordshire) and Squadron Leader Samantha May (who lives in Birmingham), for a pickleball session before taking part in a Year 9 Science STEM lesson exploring prosthetic design and performance.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, shakes hands with a pupil at Ninestiles, an Academy ahead of playing Pickleball.
The STEM session was delivered by former Invictus Games competitors Dr Dave Henson (Paralympian and bioengineer from Southampton) and Josh Boggi (from Berkshire), who used their own experiences to help pupils explore the science, engineering and real-world application behind prosthetic design.
The Duke then joined 200 pupils for an assembly exploring themes of service, sport and recovery. The assembly gave pupils the opportunity to ask questions and hear directly about the experiences of individuals who have benefitted from the Invictus Games and are giving back to their communities.
Left to right: Josh Boggi, Dr Dave Henson, Samantha May, Clare Gibson, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, join pupils in an assembly at Ninestiles, an Academy.
INSPIRE forms part of Invictus Games Birmingham 2027’s ambition to create meaningful impact in Birmingham, the West Midlands and across the UK, using the build-up to the Games to bring communities closer to the stories of recovery and resilience that sit at the heart of the Invictus movement.
Helen Helliwell, CEO, Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, said:
“The Invictus Games are about much more than sport. INSPIRE takes the stories, experiences and values of our competitors beyond the Games and into classrooms across the country, giving young people the chance to learn about service, recovery, resilience and possibility.
Seeing pupils engage with the programme today showed exactly what it can achieve. We want the impact of Birmingham 2027 to be felt long before the Games begin – whether that’s through programmes like INSPIRE, communities getting involved across the country, or people signing up now for the chance to be there and experience the Games for themselves when tickets go on presale next month.”
Squadron Leader (Doctor) Samantha May, former Invictus Games competitor who lives in Birmingham, said:
“The experiences of the Armed Forces community can teach young people so much about teamwork, resilience, service and adapting when things don’t go to plan. INSPIRE gives schools a really accessible way to bring those lessons into the classroom. It’s a privilege to meet pupils and see how curious they are about our experiences and the role sport can play in recovery.”
Alex Hughes, Principal at Ninestiles, an Academy, said:
“The entire Ninestiles, an Academy community was delighted to host the launch of the Invictus Games INSPIRE educational resources. Our learners are really excited to start engaging with the programme following the inspiring visit from former Invictus Games competitors.
The resources are incredibly valuable for teachers because they are high quality, practical and ready to use, while also bringing the Invictus Games and its wider purpose to life through real people and their experiences.
Using these resources is a brilliant way to make subjects from mathematics and science through to PSHE feel genuinely relevant to children and young people, while opening up conversations around resilience, challenge and inclusion.”
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, speaks with pupils at Ninestiles, an Academy during a Pickleball lesson.
Vince Green, CEO of Summit Learning Trust and Professional Partner of The Education Exchange West Midlands said:
“These educational resources have been designed by expert teachers, for teachers, with the practical realities of the classroom at their heart. By working closely with schools, colleges and trusts we have been able to help develop resources that are genuinely curriculum linked, easy to use and relevant to learners at every stage.
What makes the programme particularly powerful is the opportunity to bring the real stories and experiences of the Invictus Community into the classroom. Former competitors can help young people understand themes such as resilience, recovery, disability and service, while showing them that the Invictus Games is about much more than a week of sport.
The INSPIRE programme has been developed here in the West Midlands, but its ambition goes beyond our region. We look forward to seeing schools across the UK and beyond use these resources throughout the academic year as we build towards the games in Birmingham in 2027.”
Pupils gather with Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Helen Helliwell, CEO at Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, at the end of their Pickleball lesson at Ninestiles, an Academy. Pickleball is one of three new sports that will feature at the Games in July next year.