Collection: National Paralympic Heritage Centre

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  NPHT was formed in 2015 as a charity to:

  Cherish, capture and explore the heritage of the British Paralympic Movement past, present and future, for generations to come”

  In 2015 the NPHT did not have its own collection but has since built one. The BA already had the National Spinal Injuries Centre records and the long-term deposit of the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sport Federation collection.

  Since 2015 the NPHT has had 98 collections donated to them including the British Paralympic collection, the Tony Sainsbury OBE collection, and the Caz Walton OBE collection all of which are significant in size. Other donations are mainly from individuals and objects from the National Spinal Injuries Centre. The WheelPower, British Wheelchair Sport collection is in the process of being provided to the NPHT on long-term loan, and there is the possibility that the Graham Boolphotographic collection will be deposited on loan to the Trust.

  There has only been one physical acquisition to date, a 1950s folding wheelchair in February 2019, purchased for the purpose of showing the evolution of the wheelchair at the Heritage Centre, alongside other sports wheelchairs.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2022

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  The heritage is focused on the unique history of the development of the Paralympic Movement in Great Britain, from its birthplace in Stoke Mandeville in 1948 to the present-day successes of the British Paralympic team. It is an inspiring and moving story of international significance.

  From a British perspective it tells the history of a remarkable movement through the many individuals who have been part of the Games. It is a journey that has had profound effects on the lives of many disabled people and their families. It has led the way in changing public attitudes towards disabled people and influenced the development of new technologies to better support them. It is a tale that is still unfolding with further significant developments made during the London 2012 Paralympic Games and the success of the British Paralympic teams in subsequent Games.

  The current strength of the collection lies in the early days of the Paralympic movement from the 1940s through to the 1980s and, a major part of the British Paralympic Association collection focused on London 2012, including a large costume collection. Another strength is in the significant film and photographic collections. Finally, the growing oral history collection of individuals experiences and memories plays a significant role in fulfilling the Trust’s statement of purpose and key aims.

  The collections are mainly focused on the early years, and therefore currently biased towards Wheelchair sports, the only Paralympic sports from the 1940s to mid 1970s and there is still a lot of work to be carried out to accession everything, with a clear plan in place for the next 5 years.

  There are some items within the collection not accessioned and held for handling purposes. These items are ones that are replicated elsewhere in the collection or items that are brand new for example sports equipment used in learning work. NPHT will purposefully collect for handling to diversify the items available for use with audiences.

  The physical heritage includes objects, medals, torches, wheelchairs, sports equipment, sportswear, trophies, flags, opening ceremony costumes, medical records, score boards, posters, programmes, gifts, correspondence and minutes, oral histories, photographs, and films.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2022

  Licence: CC BY-NC