Community Integrated Care, the Rugby Football League and RL Commercial are proud to announce a long-term extension of the charity's role as the Official Social Care Partner of the sport.
The renewed agreement reaffirms a shared commitment to using the combined power of rugby league and care to challenge inequalities and support people who draw on care and support to lead fuller, healthier and more independent lives.
The partnership is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and impactful social impact relationships in sport, bringing together Community Integrated Care's expertise in disability inclusion and community development with the Rugby Football League's reach, influence and passion for improving lives through sport.
Ten years of impact - extended into the next decade.
The extension comes as the charity celebrates a decade of impact with the game, creating groundbreaking programmes, campaigns and opportunities that have transformed thousands of lives across the country. The extension of the strategic partnership will see the charity and sport continue creating life-changing opportunities into the next decade.
The renewed partnership will be officially celebrated at AMT Headingley Stadium on Friday 31st July, where Leeds Rhinos host an Inclusion Round fixture against Toulouse Olympique. The club will deliver a special exhibition of the Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League, one of the partnership's most celebrated innovations, and welcome many people supported by the charity to mark the continuation of this impactful relationship.
The partnership has been recognised nationally and internationally on many occasions, including being named as the world’s Best Sports Community Scheme award at the international Sports Business Awards and receiving the Care Innovator Award at the Great British Care Awards.
Its impact includes the Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League, which was independently assessed by Manchester Metropolitan University as generating £12.43 of social value for every £1 invested. The programme empowers people to live healthier, more independent lives by playing for the clubs they love on rugby league's greatest stages, including Magic Weekend.
Over the past decade, the partnership has also delivered Inclusive Volunteering with the Rugby League World Cup, transforming the lives of more than 500 people through aspirational and accessible volunteering opportunities and personal development. It has created On The Same Team, an anti-bullying and anti-discrimination programme that has reached more than 30,000 young people, and developed a range of resources to make the game more accessible, including rugby league's first-ever Easy Read guide.
Proud partners
John Hughes, Director of Partnerships and Communities at Community Integrated Care, said: “We know that lasting impact comes through long-term strategic partnerships, so this new agreement represents an important demonstration of our enduring commitment to delivering real change, together.
Over the last decade, we have shown what can be achieved when social care and sport come together as a force for good. This partnership has created programmes and campaigns that truly address deep-rooted challenges in society while making countless dreams a reality.
We are excited to build upon everything we have achieved together over the last decade. By continuing to work alongside the RFL, RL Commercial, clubs, charitable foundations and supporters across the game, we can create even greater opportunities for people who draw on care and support in the years ahead."
Marc Lovering, Director of Performance and Development at the Rugby Football League, said: "Community Integrated Care is one of the most valued and impactful partners in rugby league. Over the past decade, we have worked together to tackle inequalities, strengthen communities and enable dreams.
Through initiatives such as the Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League, Inclusive Volunteering and On The Same Team, this partnership has changed lives, strengthened communities and helped make rugby league more inclusive for all.
The long-term extension of this important relationship signals our commitment to achieving even greater impact in the years ahead."
Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Chief Executive Officer at Leeds Rhinos, said:
"I have been proud to be an Ambassador for Community Integrated Care as a player and, now, off the field. It meant a lot to me, the club and our Foundation to host the celebration of this partnership renewal as part of our Inclusion Round at AMT Headingley.
The excitement of the Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League festival, alongside so many people supported by the charity enjoying the matchday experience, perfectly captured what makes this relationship so special.
For more than a decade, Community Integrated Care has helped rugby league realise its potential as a force for inclusion, while the sport has provided a powerful platform to extend the charity's impact. Together, we have created opportunities, challenged perceptions and changed lives throughout the game."
