Boccia UK supports Equal Play

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Boccia UK has today welcomed the launch of Equal Play which highlights the need for equal access to school sport for disabled children.

A short documentary from ParalympicsGB and Harder Than You Think Productions has today been launched and stars Paralympian Hannah Cockroft.

  • Equal Play shows that PE at school is an opportunity for disabled joy - the uniting and universal power of sports, the desire for young people to thrive, and ultimately, the determination for a more equitable present and future

  • 45 percent of the crew who worked on the film identified as Disabled.

Stars of the film, equal play

Winner of the Audience Award at Lebron James’ Uninterrupted Film Festival, EQUAL PLAY is a powerful documentary that highlights the need for equal access to school sport for disabled children, with just one in four saying they currently take part in sport at school.

The story focuses on two British children, Marley, a teenager from London whose life has been profoundly changed by sport; and Tammy, who struggles from barriers to physical activity at her school and experiences daily exclusion.

The film follows both children as they are sidelined in school and demand their right to be treated equally in access to sports and PE. Marley discovers his confidence and social skills through boxing, while Tammy is inspired by ParalympicsGB star, Hannah Cockcroft to take up wheelchair racing and explore her competitive side on the racetrack.

By capturing the nuanced joy and empowerment that sports can bring to disabled individuals, EQUAL PLAY highlights the positive change that inclusion can create. Directed by Lily Ahree Siegel, the film was produced by Emmy award winning Harder Than You Think Productions [Rising Phoenix] and Robert Ford [Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story].

Britain’s best ever boccia player David Smith OBE has thrown his weight behind the film:

“Currently, thousands of disabled children in the UK are missing out on the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity. It’s 2024 and it’s high time that PE became more inclusive. I’d love to see boccia played in every school - it’s super inclusive and gives the opportunity for disabled children to play alongside their non-disabled school friends.”

EQUAL PLAY will air on Channel 4 on Monday 26 August at 6pm.