We’re crowned Helpforce Champions!

Community Integrated Care is proud to have been crowned volunteering champions at this year’s Helpforce Champions Awards for our ground-breaking partnership with the Rugby League World Cup 2021 (RLWC 2021) and Sport England.

In the awards ceremony on Friday (4^th November) we were delighted to see our partnership awarded the Breaking Down Barriers accolade for our world-first Inclusive Volunteering Programme.

Celebrating volunteers in health and social care, the Helpforce Champions Awards specially honour individuals and organisations who have tried something new, brought about positive changes, and set new levels of excellence.

The Breaking Down Barriers accolade recognises exceptional volunteering efforts that cross organisational and sector boundaries.

Our Inclusive Volunteering Programme supports over 300 individuals with care and support needs to live out their dreams, challenge societal misconceptions, and volunteer at massive Rugby League events.

From volunteers advising tournament organisers how they can make their events accessible to all, to enabling a 10-year-old aspiring rapper who has autism to create a song with a hit-making producer, Inclusive Volunteering continues to break down barriers and create life-changing experiences for all those involved.

Community Integrated Care’s Director of Partnerships and Communities, John Hughes, said, “We are incredibly proud to have won the Breaking Down Barriers Award, as it really epitomises all we have set out to do with our Inclusive Volunteering Programme. Whether it be matchday media placements or tackling disability hate crime through educational school assemblies, there is no doubt that we’re overcoming obstacles – even enabling participants to gain qualifications and paid work.”

He continued, “Our thanks go to our fantastic partners, Rugby League World Cup 2021 and Sport England, who have facilitated such incredible experiences. It’s thanks to our collaboration that we’ve been able to make the programme such a success, and we couldn’t be prouder to have achieved this award.”

Matt Price, Sports Inclusion Specialist and Inclusive Volunteer within the programme, said, “Since becoming an Inclusive Volunteer, I’ve enjoyed so many amazing opportunities! Through the programme, I discovered my passion for photography and even got to work alongside the England Rugby League media team to capture content. Plus, I’ve interviewed Super League coaches at official press conferences – something I never would have dreamed of before.”

He continued, “On behalf of all of our amazing Inclusive Volunteers, we are really proud and grateful to have been awarded the Helpforce Champions Breaking Down Barriers Award, recognising all of the amazing things we have achieved so far as a team. I can’t wait to see what we’ll do next!”