How it all came about

In 2022 we were thrilled to receive this unique opportunity to host the world’s first ABI Games™ in celebration of the Queens Platinum Jubilee. This was made possible through a grant from the Lottery Community Fund. This unique event enabled adults nationally to take part in the world’s only games for acquired brain injury (ABI). Unless a brain injury causes a physical impairment, those with a brain injury are not eligible to compete in the Paralympics and instead, are eligible for the Olympics.

We wanted a platform to showcase the amazing abilities of our ABI community in the United Kingdom. After surviving a life-changing acquired brain injury, individuals are affected in very different and unique ways depending on where in the brain the injury happened. They often feel they have lost who they were, the relationships they once had with families and friends, their independence, their careers, financial stability, and confidence, their life is thrown into chaos and there is fear of the unknown.

The ABI Games™ allowed us to highlight the treasured skills each person still possesses or have developed during their recuperation and raise awareness of what it is like to have an ABI.

With the development of the ABI Games™ 2022, we ensured there was an activity for all capabilities and confidences across our ABI Community, so we offered 24 options across two days. This worked beautifully and by leaving registration open all day on both days, we did not exclude anyone from taking part.

There was a weekend full of fun, achievements, tears of joy, individuals excelling and remembering lost skills and talents. Medals and a baseball cap, goody bag was issued to everyone and at the end of each day an award ceremony.

We had 90 individuals taking part with remote submissions for the Creative Expressions category if they couldn’t attend. The weekend surpassed our expectations. Individuals whom we know who are generally sedate in their everyday activities who were taking part in walking rugby or football, tennis and cricket were trotting across the courts, smiles beaming and finding new vigour and energies they hadn’t experienced for years.

ABI Games 2023

Moving on a year, this remarkable event ran again in 2023 on Thursday, 3rd August at the University of Worcester Arena. It showcased the extraordinary talents and abilities of participants from across the UK with over 170 people taking part in an array of 23 activities.

The activities encompassed a diverse range of Physical Games: boccia, bowls, walking tennis, rugby and football plus seated, table and walking cricket. The Life Skills category saw entries for growing the tallest sunflower, wonky fruit or veg, baking a cake, scones, loaf of bread or jar of preserve. The Creative Expression category showcased remarkable entries in pottery, photography, woodwork, drawing or painting, creative writing and crafts. The fourth category of Cognitive Skills challenged prowess in dominoes, chess, Uno, a memory game and Sjoelbak: a Dutch shuffleboard game. Participants tried their hand at many different games throughout the day which had the added bonus of building their confidence.

2025 and Beyond

Get yourself ready for the next ABI Games™ on 20 August 2025! With so many games to choose from there really is something for everyone.

ABI Games™ 2025

ABOUT US

Registered Charity Number 702490

ABI Games is owned by
Headway Worcestershire, The Mill, Gregory’s Mill Street, Worcester, WR3 8BA

Company Registration Number 02443464 (England and Wales)

Affiliated to Headway – the brain injury association
Registered Charity Number 1025852

CONTACT

Telephone: 01905 729729
Email: info@abigames.org

LINKS

Subscribe to our Newsletter for all the latest news.

OUR SPONSORS

How it all came about

ABI Games 2023

2025 and Beyond