Clients endorse flagship insurance event for driving change in complex injury claims

For the third time, Clyde & Co hosted clients and industry partners at the Stoke Mandeville Experience Day, in partnership with WheelPower, the UK’s national charity for wheelchair sport.

The event gave claims professionals from across the UK insurance market a first-hand look at how rehabilitation and adaptive sport can support recovery following life-changing injury.

Hosted at Stoke Mandeville Stadium - the birthplace of the Paralympic movement in Buckinghamshire, England - on 1 October 2026, the day brought together teams from leading insurers alongside rehabilitation and legal sector partners.

Clients including Admiral, Allianz, Ecclesiastical, Intact Insurance, Markerstudy, Marsh, MDDUS, MIB, QBE, Swiss Re,Travelers and Zurich took part in wheelchair basketball, rugby, badminton, laser shooting and table tennis, raising more than £27,000 to support opportunities for disabled people to access sport and physical activity.

In a highlight reel from the event, clients and sponsors from Ecclesiastical, Swiss Re,   Markerstudy, Farrar's Buildings and Deans Court Chambers share their reflections on the event. They highlight the value of stepping away from day-to-day roles to build stronger market relationships, gain fresh perspectives, and experience the unique atmosphere that has made the Stoke Mandeville Experience one of the insurance sector's most valued events.

Putting recovery at the heart of claims

While the sporting competition remained a highlight, the wider value of the day came from the conversations it sparked about serious injury claims and the long-term role of rehabilitation.

For many attendees, the event brought one central point into sharp focus: behind every claim is a person rebuilding their life. Early access to rehabilitation, sport and physical activity can support confidence, routine and independence, improving long-term outcomes and potentially reducing future care needs and earnings losses.

This reflects a broader insurance-sector trend. In its 2025 report, The Role of Rehabilitation in Bodily Injury Claims in the UK, Swiss Re concluded that early, effective rehabilitation and collaboration between insurers, medical professionals and providers can improve outcomes while delivering significant financial savings.
The report states: “Investing in rehabilitation increases the chances of patients achieving a higher degree of independent living, self-care and even a return to employment. From an insurer’s point of view, this can potentially lead to reduced long-term care costs and a shorter claim lifespan, ultimately resulting in financial savings across key areas of compensation.”

For insurers, rehabilitation is therefore not simply a treatment cost but an investment in recovery. Events such as the Stoke Mandeville Experience Day help connect technical and financial claims decisions with their human impact, demonstrating the value of early intervention and long-term, recovery-focused thinking.

Kate Duffy, Partner at Clyde & Co, said: 

"The greatest value of the Stoke Mandeville Experience Day is that it brings the human impact of serious injury into sharp focus. As claims professionals, we spend much of our time discussing rehabilitation programmes, care packages and future needs in reports and schedules. It’s wonderful that insurers are recognising the profound impact sport is playing in long-term rehabilitation of claimants. 

"Events like this bring our cases to life and enable us to hear directly from people living with life-changing injuries and to see first-hand how access to sport and physical activity can transform confidence, independence and quality of life. It highlights the importance of being active for both physical and mental health, and that sport can play a big part in that holistic picture in a person's recovery. 

"Insurers can see this in their funding under the Rehabilitation Code. That personal connection is incredibly powerful and creates a much deeper understanding than traditional claims discussions alone."

Attendees also heard from our guest speaker, Saffron Cresswell, who shared her inspiring journey from elite event rider to para-athlete following a life-changing spinal injury. Saffron spoke about her experience at WheelPower’s Inter Spinal Unit Games, the role sport has played in her rehabilitation, and her remarkable progression in para-canoeing, culminating in a fifth-place finish at the World Championships.

What our clients told us

Darren Bucys, Technical Unit Leader, Intact Insurance

“Speaking from personal experience, the Stoke Mandeville Experience Day genuinely opens your eyes to what’s possible. Wheelchair sport gives people a sense of freedom, builds confidence, and inclusivity that can feel lost after a life-changing injury. You also appreciate the skill involved - and just how competitive these activities can be! 

"There’s definitely a greater understanding of the benefits these have in recovery. From my perspective, when sport is introduced, you can see clear improvements in confidence, independence, and long term outcomes. Both can play a core role, and the psychological impact of sport can’t be underestimated.”

David Thompson, Senior Technical Claims Handler, Markerstudy 

“Insurers increasingly recognise the value of taking a more rounded approach to rehabilitation, with sport playing a crucial role. When claimants engage fully with the rehabilitation being funded, it leads to better outcomes, and sport can have an incredibly positive impact by giving people purpose during some of their most difficult days. 

"This approach benefits both claimants and insurers and reflects what the Rehabilitation Code is all about.”

Heidi Webster, Claims Expert - Property & Casualty Reinsurance, Swiss Re 

"I thoroughly enjoyed the event, and it has given me an understanding of how sport can change the outlook of someone who faces a new life in a wheelchair."

"I'm not a particularly sporty person,  but I really enjoyed the different events and the number of sports that we were able to try. 

"Listening to Saffron was very insightful and I was impressed with her resilience and motivation. It was a pleasure to talk to her and also the rest of the volunteers and staff and hear about their experiences."

Across the three Stoke Mandeville Experience Days, Clyde & Co, our clients and industry partners have raised more than £77,000 for WheelPower UK. Our fundraising for WheelPower UK is still active, you can donate here.