Armed Forces charity Help for Heroes is holding its biggest ever Community Sports Series event in the area on 7 and 8 September. 

This is the first time the charity has brought its Community Sports Series to the Warwickshire area.

It is hoped that around 100 veterans from across the country, including Warwickshire will attend, for the chance to take part in a range of different adaptive sport activities at the University of Warwick.

The event is fully funded by the charity and participants can either book for the whole weekend or join a taster session on Saturday afternoon, and there are a few places still available.

Ryan Hunt, community sport and innovation manager for the charity, said: "This is our 14th event since we launched the series two years ago and it's our biggest so far. 

"We wanted to come to Warwickshire, as we know there is a large veteran community in the region of more than 18,700 people. 

"We know from the feedback we get from participants that our Sports Series events can be life-changing for some people, giving them a focus to help them manage physical problems as well as mental health challenges, and also the chance to meet up with like-minded people.

"We're delighted to have the event supported by the national governing bodies for Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Rugby and Sitting Volleyball.

"As well as giving an opportunity for veterans to try out some adaptive sports for the first time, we'll also have some exhibition matches." 

The sports series events are held from February to September.

Participants are given the chance to try traditional adaptive sports including archery, wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball and wheelchair rugby, as well as new ones such as boccia.

The Warwickshire event is being supported by British Wheelchair Basketball, which provides Help for Heroes with basketball chairs, staff support, tournament support and club support. 

Grant Wilson is the Inspire a Generation Programme Manager at British Wheelchair Basketball and said: "British Wheelchair Basketball is committed to making our sport as inclusive and accessible as possible.

"Working in partnership with Help for Heroes to deliver the Inspire a Generation programme is an excellent example of this.

"Breaking down barriers to participation and ensuring that each individual is supported throughout their journey.

"The partnership has resulted in over 70 veterans having the opportunity to participate in wheelchair basketball along with providing local pathways to our extensive club network." 

Ryan added: "Adaptive, inclusive sport continues to be an important part of our whole-person approach to recovery for veterans experiencing physical, mental and wellbeing challenges.

"The charity runs a Coaching Academy alongside the Community Sports Series, which has seen 25 veterans move from being supported by the Charity, to qualifying themselves as sports coaches before going on to support others, with a further 35 due to qualify this year." 

More than 300 people have benefited from the sessions, since they were launched in November 2022.

For more information about the Help for Heroes Community Sports Series go to https://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/community-sports-series/ or email [email protected]