More than 1,350 young people with SEND have discovered the benefits of boccia, almost double the number originally targeted by a programme designed to make the sport more accessible.
Young people across Merseyside have been given the chance to get active, build confidence and feel included through a year-long boccia programme.
Supported by the Hargreaves Foundation, Boccia England worked with schools between April 2025 and April 2026, providing equipment, training and opportunities for pupils to take part in the sport.
The programme originally aimed to reach 720 pupils across 24 schools. Instead, around 1,350 pupils from more than 30 schools got involved.
Schools received boccia sets, ramps, referee kits and resource packs, while staff were given the opportunity to complete Boccia Leaders Award training.
A skills and friendly games festival also brought seven schools together for a day of competition, teamwork and celebration, supported by young sports leaders and local School Games Organisers.
A lasting legacy
The programme has left a clear legacy in schools, with every school that responded to the evaluation saying it planned to continue offering boccia.
Pupils also embraced the sport, with two-thirds saying they enjoyed boccia “a lot” or “quite a lot”. Eight out of nine said they would like to play more in the future.
Teachers reported benefits beyond physical activity, including improvements in coordination, teamwork, communication, confidence and social inclusion.
For many pupils, boccia also offered something particularly important — the chance to try a sport where everyone could start on an equal footing.
St Mary’s School said:
“Boccia has now been embedded into the ARC PE curriculum, and we are exploring offering it as an extra-curricular opportunity to the wider school.”
Cathcart Primary School added:
“Children have loved taking part in a new sport. They particularly enjoyed all having the same start point, as none of them have played before.”
With schools now equipped with the resources, knowledge and confidence to keep the sport going, the programme has created a lasting opportunity for young people across Merseyside.
For more than 1,350 pupils, boccia has been more than a new sport to try it has been a chance to take part, build confidence and discover what they can achieve.
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