Learning Disability Super League at Parliament

The success of the Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League was showcased at Parliament, at ‘Sport You Can’ – a special event marking National Learning Disability Week.

Community Integrated Care’s CEO, Mark Adams, and lead members of the team that have developed this life-changing programme, presented at the House of Commons event on Thursday 20th June, alongside Super League CEO, Robert Elstone.

This national conference brought together leading institutions in the social care, sports and health sectors, to showcase the very best examples of sport in learning disability settings.

The collaboration between Super League, RFL and the national social care charity Community Integrated Care has been hailed nationally and internationally for its impact and innovation, since the announcement of project in February 2019.

Backed by 12 major rugby league clubs and integrated into the Super League calendar, this is the first ever example of a professional sports league sharing its brand with a learning disability sports programme.

National Learning Disability Week ran from the 17th – 23rd June, and this year celebrated ‘sport and inclusion’. The Sport You Can conference was developed by Harrow Mencap, in collaboration with Community Integrated Care, A Level Playing Field, Sport England, Portsmouth FC and International Mixed-Ability Sport.

The latest Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League festival also took place on Saturday at Victoria Park, Warrington, marking the conclusion of National Learning Disability Week. Led by Warrington Wolves Charitable Foundation, the inspirational event also featured Castleford Tigers, St Helens, Hull KR, Leeds Rhinos, Wakefield Trinity, Wigan Warriors, Widnes Vikings.

Super League CEO, Robert Elstone, said: “Sport You Can was a great event and it highlighted the best things about our sport – inclusivity, family and a strong sense of community.

“There is some excellent work being done by Community Integrated Care in this area and the impact has been obvious.

“Super League is delighted to work so closely with them on this, and we look forward to developing the learning disability game in the future. It is very important to us.”

Mark Adams, CEO of Community Integrated Care, added: “It was an honour to showcase the Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League at Parliament, at an event that celebrated the very best of learning disability sports.

“When this programme officially kicked off at the recent Dacia Magic Weekend, we were astounded by the joy that it brought to players and their families, and the support that it received from the rugby league community.

“Community Integrated Care is absolutely committed to its role as the Official Social Care partner of Super League and RFL. We are excited for how far the Learning Disability Super League can grow in the seasons ahead and look forward to developing many more life-changing programmes in collaboration with the sport.”