Community Integrated Care is celebrating ten years of impact through its pioneering partnership with Rugby League.
With Community Integrated Care being founded in Widnes – employing and supporting hundreds of people across the town – and Widnes Vikings being a founding partner of its social impact work in rugby league, this milestone represents a proud achievement for the charity, Widnes Vikings and our community.
Since 2016, the charity has worked closely with the Rugby Football League, clubs and foundations to change the lives of thousands of people who rely on social care.
Community Integrated Care is one of Britain’s biggest and most successful charities, delivering 8 million hours of specialist care and support across the nation. It is proudly the Official Social Care Partner of the Rugby Football League.
Working together, the sport and the charity have created programmes and opportunities over the decade that address health, social and economic inequalities for people who have learning disabilities, autism, and other support needs, shaping a more inclusive sport and care system.
One of the partnership’s biggest impacts is the Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League. This groundbreaking adapted and non-competitive sport enables more than 400 people to play for the clubs they love at many of Rugby League’s greatest stages, including Magic Weekend, the Challenge Cup Semi Final and major Super League fixtures. It’s been assessed as creating more than £1.25 million of social value every year in Rugby League’s communities.
Widnes Vikings are founding members of the Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League – with a thriving squad that is excited for the season ahead.
The charity has also transformed hundreds of lives off the field, too, including through its Inclusive Volunteering™ programme, which has given more than 500 people who face barriers in their lives specialist training and support to live with more independence in creative programmes inspired by the game.
Both the Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League and Inclusive Volunteering have been named as the Best Community Scheme at the International Sports Business Awards and as the best innovation in the care sector at the Great British Care Awards.
The relationship has also driven important social change. Projects like On The Same Team – which was co-produced with people who have experienced disability hate crime and discrimination – are giving thousands of young people tools to tackle prejudice and build more inclusive communities.
Meanwhile, the charity’s team of lived experience experts, The Support Squad, has helped make the sport’s events more accessible, including creating easy-read guides to major events like the Betfred Super League Grand Final and Challenge Cup.
The strength of the partnership shone in the pandemic, when the charity and rugby clubs came together to support and protect thousands of lives. Rugby League clubs – including Widnes Vikings – played a vital role in supporting the charity by storing and distributing PPE, while the charity offered specialist guidance to help foundations reach and connect with communities at the heart of the crisis, showing the power of community at its very best.
As the partnership marks its tenth year, both Community Integrated Care and the Rugby Football League remain committed to building upon this legacy with clubs and charitable foundations, creating even greater impact together.
John Hughes, Director of Partnerships and Communities at Community Integrated Care, said: “Over the past decade, alongside our partners, our charity has created and grown innovative work that tackles deep health, social and economic inequalities, reflecting Community Integrated Care’s commitment to enabling people to live their Best Life Possible.
As a charity founded in Widnes, our roots in the local community really matter. We treasure the relationship we have with the club, its players and its supporters. We would like to thank the Widnes Vikings and their charitable foundation for their support and collaboration over ten years.
Our relationship in Rugby League began with the club locally and has been scaled to deliver national impact – transforming thousands of lives – so this is a real shared moment of pride.”
Foundation Manager, Sean Mellor, says: “The 10 years since Community Integrated Care first collaborated with the Rugby Football League and Widnes Vikings have flown by.
Widnes Vikings regard their Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League team as one of the pillars of the Foundation and the club. Not only do the players gain confidence, forge friendships and take pride in their performances and their achievements, but everyone involved- coaches, parents, carers and spectators-share the infectious joy which this version of rugby league is able to generate.”
Under the guiding hand of Community Integrated Care, the sport has constantly evolved, striving to be as safe, inclusive, welcoming and enjoyable as possible. It will be exciting to see what the next 10 years bring. “
