With government statistics revealing this month that reported disability hate crimes have increased by a shocking 44% this year, Community Integrated Care has partnered with the sport of Rugby League to tackle prejudice before it is formed and promote safer communities for people who access social care. Creating ground-breaking educational programmes that are engaging almost 15,000 young people on the value of inclusion and respect, and providing vital guidance to hundreds of social care services, this work is combating discrimination at scale.
The national social charity has partnered with the Rugby League World Cup 2021 and Sport England to create a ground-breaking Inclusive Volunteering Programme that is engaging more than 350 people who require care and support in their daily lives. Many of these participants, who are passionate about disability rights and inclusion, and have had lived experiences of discrimination, have shared their talents and experiences to co-design vital campaigns that support a more inclusive society.
Inspiring Young People
At the heart of this is ‘On The Same Team’, a unique educational programme that teaches primary school children about the value of inclusion, kindness and respect. Providing inspirational lesson-plans inspired by players in the Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League, an adapted form of rugby league pioneered by the charity and RFL, along with examples of how England’s Rugby League stars support each other, the programme helps young people to see the best in every person.
With almost than 15,000 children already signed up for this programme, which is free to all primary schools, it is tackling bullying and building positive attitudes in future generations. Schools can access the free education pack, which includes a range of exclusive Rugby League World Cup rewards and prizes, at www.TheSameTeam.co.uk.
This programme has received incredible backing by England Rugby League’s men’s, women’s, and wheelchair squads, who are each wearing a special ‘On The Same Team’ branded warm-up shirt at a Rugby League World Cup 2021 fixture.
England Men’s Captain, Sam Tomkins, and his teammates, proudly wore this shirt at England’s World Cup tie against France. He said: “We hope that by wearing this shirt we can carry an important message to the public and encourage many more schools get behind the ‘On The Same Team’ programme, which helps tackle bullying and discrimination.”
Jodie Cunningham, St Helens and England Rugby League star, is also proud to champion and feature in the campaign. She said: “It is an honour to support On The Same Team. Rugby League is a sport that can powerfully represent teamwork, co-operation, and inclusion. Every school that delivers this programme will gain so much, giving their young people exciting learning experiences and lessons that they will carry for life.”
Responding To Discrimination
This work has been furthered by the creation of ‘Speak Out, Stay Safe’ – an important training programme that has been created by the charity’s Rugby League World Cup volunteers to help other people who access social care to understand the role of the police and community safety. Giving accessible and engaging guidance on how to respond to experiences of crime or intolerance in the community, the campaign powerfully uses Rugby League to give people the tools and confidence to recognise and report prejudice and hate crimes.
Working with Community Integrated Care’s specialist Partnerships and Communities Team and Merseyside Police, the volunteers co-created this much-needed training workshop that is helping hundreds of people who access social care to feel and be safer. Using friendly Rugby-League inspired visuals to build important life skills, like the ability to differentiate between real and false friends, the programme supports greater independence.
This work sits alongside a ground-breaking mix of community projects between the charity and the sport, which promote opportunity and social cohesion. From developing a specially adapted form of Rugby League, the Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League – which has given people who have learning disabilities the chance to showcase the talents to hundreds of thousands of people, to delivering disability rights campaigns, this partnership is changing attitudes and enabling people to live their greatest dreams.
Giving A Voice
John Hughes, Director of Partnerships and Communities at Community Integrated Care, says: “Disability hate crime and prejudice is sadly very real and present in many communities. By bringing together a charity that is passionate about the right that every person has to live their best life, and sport that is rooted in its communities, we are able to shine a light on this important issue and promote positive change.
To live in a society where every person is valued, it is vital that young people grow up with kind, compassionate and inclusive attitudes. We are excited by the role that On The Same Team can play in nurturing these beliefs and helping schools to be truly welcoming environments.
Feedback from schools on this programme been overwhelmingly positive, with teachers telling us that their pupils have been inspired and truly reflected on how they can challenge bullying and discrimination. We are encouraging many more schools to sign up for this free teaching toolkit, and give their children a truly life-changing learning experience.
This work sits alongside a range of other projects, which are designed to support greater community access and cohesion through rugby league. From ‘Speak Out, Stay Safe’, our education programme that helps support people who access social care to understand how to respond to issues of prejudice and crime, through to the Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League, our work with Rugby League is shaping a more inclusive society.
All of these projects have been led by people we support and our volunteers. We are grateful to our partners in Rugby League for giving them an important platform to share their talents and perspectives and help influence positive change.”
Oliver Thomason, Sports Inclusion Assistant at Community Integrated Care, stars in the On The Same Team campaign. He says: “It makes me sad when people are judged or not supported to fulfil their potential. Because I have a learning disability, sometimes people don’t see my potential. It has been brilliant to share my story in On The Same Team. I want to help every child to understand their value in life and to see the best other people too. I know that this programme will help to change lives.
Community Integrated Care, the RFL and the Rugby League World Cup are doing something very important in working together to help overcome bullying and discrimination, and to give people a chance to live their dreams.”
