Empowering Through Sport: Sophie Carrigill PLY Visits Quilters for Paralympic Week
Empowering Through Sport: Sophie Carrigill PLY Visits Quilters for Paralympic Week
Team Mintridge was absolutely delighted to return to Quilters Junior School for their annual Paralympic Week with current GB Paralympian and wheelchair basketball player Sophie Carrigill PLY on the 10th September 2025.
Sophie was full of energy and smiles throughout the day, engaging both staff and students with her story and her skills. She introduced the basics of wheelchair basketball, switching between her everyday wheelchair and her specialist sports chair to demonstrate her incredible talent and play alongside the students.
To help make the day even more memorable, we partnered once again with Make Change, who kindly provided the sports wheelchairs and expert coaching from their brilliant wheelchair basketball coach, Nathan and his assistant Spencer. Their support made a huge impact, allowing every student to experience the sport in an authentic and inclusive way.
Celebrating Talent and Teamwork
All Year 5 and 6 participants received a signed autograph card from Sophie as a keepsake and two students were recognised for their outstanding efforts on the basketball court. Sophie awarded these students with certificates and medals, celebrating qualities such as teamwork, defensive skills, confident communication, and shooting accuracy.
An Inspiring Talk
After a full day of active sessions, Sophie addressed the whole school with an inspirational assembly. She spoke about her journey—how her life changed after becoming paralysed in a car accident at 16, and how she found purpose and passion through sport. Despite the challenges, Sophie’s belief that “every day could be better than the last” helped her persevere and thrive.
Now the captain of the GB Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team, Sophie has competed in not just one, but three Paralympic Games—a true testament to her resilience, self-belief, and determination.
Her powerful message beautifully tied into Quilters’ focus word of the week: “Yet.”
• “I can’t do it… yet.”
• “I can’t play it… yet.”
A simple word that encourages students to keep pushing forward and believe in their potential.
Sophie’s talk was both moving and humorous. When asked how she gets dressed, she smiled and replied, “Tight jeans are tricky for everyone, aren’t they?” —a perfect reminder of shared challenges and perspective.
Brilliant Questions from Students
Throughout the day, students asked thoughtful and curious questions, including:
“How high is the basketball net?”
“How do you get in and out of your car?”
“What does a wheelchair cost?”
“Can you do wheelies?”
“How do you board a plane?”
These engaging questions sparked valuable discussions and showed how inspired the pupils were by Sophie’s journey.
A huge thank you to Quilters Junior School for inviting us to be part of this special week once again. We hope all the students learned a lot, had fun, and left feeling inspired by both Sophie and Nathan from Make Change.
We can’t wait to return and see you all again soon!
About Us:
The Mintridge Foundation is a UK-wide charity dedicated to turbo-boosting young people's development and opportunities through the transformative power of sports. Our innovative programs and collaborations inspire, mentor, and guide the next generation to thrive.
