Shortlisted for Sports Business Awards

Our partnership with the Rugby League World Cup 2021 has once again been recognised for its ground-breaking work across the UK, as we’re shortlisted as a finalist in this year’s Sports Business Awards 2021, taking place this afternoon.

The Sports Business Awards recognise and reward achievements behind the scenes that facilitate sporting excellence and endeavours.

Our world first Inclusive Volunteering Programme, created in partnership with the Rugby League World Cup 2021 is amongst the shortlist for the ‘Best Sports Community Scheme’ category. We’re proud that our partnership and projects with the Rugby League has been recognised for the resilience, adaptability and resourcefulness, in particular, over this last year.

The Inclusive Volunteer Programme offers life-changing opportunities to participants through personal development projects inspired by the World Cup. With funding and support from Sport England, we’ve given over 300 people the opportunity to discover and fulfil their potential through aspirational experiences, volunteering placements and support.

Life Changing Opportunities
The shocking reality is that only 6% of people with learning disabilities are in paid employment. People who access social care face significant exclusion from hate crime to a lack of quality opportunities. Our partnership with the RLWC2021 aims to challenge these barriers by enabling people to find and fulfil their potential and helping to champion a more inclusive society.

Our charity’s specialist RLWC2021 Inclusive Volunteering Team have developed projects that are specifically designed to meet the needs, goals and dreams of each individual. Participants have the chance to test their skills, from photography, gardening and journalism, to volunteering at the RLWC2021 and other exciting rugby league events. Participants are already achieving a range of successes, including securing paid work, finding new friendships and discovering new interests.

This programme uniquely engages people from across the social care sector – including people who have learning disabilities, autism, mental health concerns, acquired brain injuries and dementia – at all stages of life, from children to older adults. Participants receive ongoing mentoring and guidance from the charity to support their personal development. With more than forty projects being delivered, this project aims to unlock people’s potential and support people to achieve their dreams.

From enabling a 10-year-old aspiring rapper to create a World Cup inspired song with a hitmaker producer, to people with a passion for communications hosting the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Final press conference, and even engaging the creative talents of people living with dementia, it is doing volunteering differently. It is hoped that this project will inform the design and delivery of future major events, and inspire new routes for inclusion through sport.

John Hughes, Director of Partnerships and Communities at Community Integrated Care, said:

“We are incredibly proud to be able to offer these opportunities to our volunteers. The programme has had a huge impact on so many lives, and we’ve seen people achieve incredible things through these remarkable projects.

We would like to thank Sport England and RLWC2021 for backing this vision. It is only through the support of our friends and partnerships that we are able to deliver brilliant programmes like these. We are grateful to every volunteer, and their support teams and families, for their passion, ideas, and hard work. I would also like to thank the colleagues at all levels of Community Integrated Care who have worked tirelessly to make this project possible. We hope that they feel proud that their hard work has been recognised at these Sports Business Awards.”

The finalists will be announced today in a ceremony at The Kia Oval.