Bucks-Based National Paralympic Heritage Trust Celebrates a Decade of Impact

The National Paralympic Heritage Trust (NPHT) has marked ten transformative years since its founding — a decade of preserving, celebrating and expanding the legacy of the Paralympic Movement, born right here in Buckinghamshire.

In 2012, a pledge to preserve the Paralympic legacy through an Olympic and Paralympic Museum in London was never fulfilled. But rather than fade into disappointment, a group of dedicated individuals decided to act. On 15th July 2015, the NPHT was founded at the spiritual birthplace of the Paralympic Movement: Stoke Mandeville.

Celebrating a Decade of Achievements

Since its inception, the Trust has:

• Welcomed over 1 million visitors, both in person and virtually

• Preserved 2,000 artefacts and digitised 20,000 historical records in collaboration with Buckinghamshire Archives

• Supported 30 work placements and 4 paid traineeships for disabled individuals

• Curated 13 exhibitions, including 6 virtual tours and 7 virtual galleries in its groundbreaking Global Virtual Museum

• Hosted 44 'Meet the Paralympian' events and captured 60+ oral histories of athletes and pioneers

• In 2025, became the world’s first 'symbol-friendly' museum

But beyond the numbers, CEO Vicky Hope-Walker emphasises the human impact:

“We’ve watched young disabled people discover skills they never knew they had… Our organisation has grown richer because of the communities shaping us every step of the way.”

Breaking Boundaries, Virtually and Locally

The NPHT’s reach now extends far beyond the walls of the National Paralympic Heritage Centre, opened in 2019 at Stoke Mandeville Stadium. In 2024, it launched a Global Virtual Museum to ensure global access to the Paralympic story, shaped by voices with lived experience of disability. These galleries incorporate co-created content with local SEND students, from audio descriptions to cutting-edge 3D scanning and photogrammetry work.

Its collaborative work with schools, partner museums, and community groups continues to shape not only inclusive storytelling, but future museum professionals.

Leading the Way in Inclusion

The Trust is pushing forward cultural change by modelling accessibility and sharing its inclusive practices freely. This summer, it aims to achieve Disability Confident Leader status — the UK government’s highest award for inclusive employers.

"We’re not just preserving history," says Hope-Walker, "we're creating a future where inclusion is seamless — where every person feels seen, valued, and empowered."

Looking Ahead

The next decade looks just as ambitious. Plans include:

• More work with SEND students and new partners like Dwarf Sport UK

• Expansion of the Heritage Trail app, offering locals self-guided Paralympic history tours

• Development of immersive, fully accessible experiences, blending digital collections with AI and sensory adaptations

• Commissioning disabled artists to bring fresh interpretation to the Paralympic story

A Community Triumph

From grassroots efforts to international recognition, the NPHT’s story is one of resilience, creativity, and community.

“This milestone proves what’s possible when we don’t give up,” says Hope-Walker. “We’re so proud of what we’ve built — and we’re just getting started.”