The School Games Maker Conference at the University’s Bedford campus was organised as part of the Sainsbury’s School Games, which aims to encourage young people to take part in competitive school sport.

The scheme is focused on creating a world-leading competitive school sport system, where volunteers play a vital role.

University students and young people listened to a talk by Ian Rose a judo paralympian, who has won two Paralympics, five World Championship and nine European Championship medals.

Ian spoke about his life and how sport had helped him with his disability – eye cancer (Retinablastoma), which saw him lose his left eye and most of the sight in his right.

He told the students that people were the key to his success and had unlocked his potential. He stressed the importance of having volunteers sport leaders and the massive impact they had on his own sports career and self-esteem.

The young people were then given the opportunity to get an officiating qualification in the sport of their choice.

This ranged from cricket, basketball and tennis to athletics, netball and rowing, and more.

Summing up the day Julia Lines, Assistant Director of Sport at the University, said: “It was great to see over 130 young leaders and University students making the most of the school games maker conference, hosted at the University. They were completely engaged with Ian Rose’s inspirational presentation.

“Sport has such a valuable role, not just on the sports field, but transfers to so many areas of life and work, this conference and the school games programme, gives these students a first class opportunity to acquire the skills and qualifications to help them and others with their future aspirations.”

For further information about the sports available to students at the University go to www.beds.ac.uk/sportbeds