Community Integrated Care and RFL launch 2025 Easy Read Guide to Betfred Challenge Cup Finals

Community Integrated Care, the Official Social Care Partner of Rugby League, has unveiled the 2025 edition of its pioneering Easy Read Guide to the Betfred Challenge Cup Finals, set to take place at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, 7 June.

This innovative resource, co-created with members of the charity’s Support Squad - a special group of individuals with learning disabilities who are employed to share their lives experience and enable organisations to become more accessible - aims to make Rugby League more understandable to new and diverse audiences. 
 
Easy read is a special form of written communications which uses carefully constructed simple sentences and supportive images to enable understanding. It is particularly powerful in supporting people who have learning disabilities or difficulties.
 
The guide offers clear, easy-to-understand information about the day’s events, including the Men’s and Women’s Challenge Cup Finals, and explains the fundamental principles of the sport in a simple and engaging format.
 
The 2025 Easy Read Guide to the Challenge Cup Finals is available to download here.

 
The 2025 finals will feature:

• Women’s Betfred Challenge Cup Final: Wigan Warriors vs. St Helens (11:45 AM BST)
• Men’s Betfred Challenge Cup Final: Warrington Wolves vs. Hull KR (3:00 PM BST)
• AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final: Featherstone Rovers vs. York Knights (5:45 PM BST)
   

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

“Last year’s guide enabled many people to attend the tournament and discover the sport for the first time. Rugby League was the first sport to create an Easy Read guide, reflecting our shared passion for a more inclusive society and the strength of our partnership with the sport. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Support Squad members who co-produced it, highlighting the impact of the paid employment they accessed in developing the guide.”

Ben Abberstein, Senior EDI Partner at the Rugby Football League, said: “We’re proud to partner with Community Integrated Care on this groundbreaking guide. It’s a brilliant tool for making our sport more welcoming, and we’re especially thankful to their Support Squad for sharing their insights and creativity in bringing it to life.”

The partnership between Community Integrated Care and Rugby League has been recognised as leading the way in the sports and social care sector guides, including winning the ‘Care Innovator’ honour at the Great British Care Awards and ‘Best Community Scheme’ at the Sports Business Awards.
 
See the impact of the first-ever guide at the 2024 Challenge Cup Final, here and read more here.

Finals Day at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 7 June is a triple-header featuring the finals of the Betfred Challenge Cup (Men’s and Women’s), alongside the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final and RFL Champion Schools Year 7 Boys Final. Tickets are on sale now!