Super League Support From Stands

Betfred Super League is paying tribute to key workers at the social care charity Community Integrated Care by prominently featuring its logo in the stands at its behind-closed-doors games. 

Community Integrated Care is the biggest and most successful social care charity in rugby league’s heartlands. The charity has formed a flourishing partnership with Super League in recent years, including helping to create the Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League and several award-winning social inclusion projects with its clubs.

Colleagues at the charity have been working tirelessly in recent months to keep thousands of people living within rugby league communities safe, happy and well-supported through the immense challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. In recognition of their efforts, Super League is now showing its support for these keyworker heroes by making this most visible of gestures.

Robert Elstone, CEO of Super League, says: “Since the return to action, Betfred Super League has been proud to recognise our partnership with Community Integrated Care and celebrate the invaluable support provided by them within our communities.

We have always been inspired by our partnership but in these difficult and turbulent times, we can only imagine the scale of the daily challenge faced by their teams across Super League communities. We are immensely proud to be associated with such life-changing and much-needed interventions.

The social care sector, alongside the NHS, has been on the frontline of the Coronavirus pandemic and our sport is unique in supporting an Official Social Care Partner. Accordingly, it is our privilege to highlight Community Integrated Care in our stadiums and allow the time to reflect on our gratitude for every member of the organisation.”

Alison Heaton, Support Worker at Millpoint in St Helens, says: “These past few months have been some of the hardest of our lives, so it means a lot whenever our dedication is recognised. Rugby League is one of the biggest passion at our service and we love to watch the games together. We were absolutely blown away when we turned on Sky Sports to watch Super League and saw the Community Integrated Care logo in the stands! To know that the sport that we love is supporting us at such a tough time has been inspirational.”

John Hughes, Director of Partnerships at Community Integrated Care, says: “Our colleagues have been made incredible sacrifices and efforts from the outset of this pandemic. Too often, the invaluable work of social care workers is overlooked. The gesture of solidarity and respect for our keyworkers is unprecedented. It speaks volumes of the values of Super League and the sport of rugby league.”

Community Integrated Care is the Official Social Care Partner of Super League, the RFL and the Rugby League World Cup 2021. The charity supports almost 4000 people across the country who have learning disabilities, autism, mental health concerns and dementia. Working with the sport, it has ensured for thousands of people that having a care and support need is not a barrier to enjoying the game of rugby league.