Community Integrated Care scoops double award recognition

The ground-breaking partnership between the national social care charity Community Integrated Care and the Rugby Football League, Super League and Rugby League World Cup 2021 has been recognised with top care sector honours. 

The charity and its partners collected the Care Innovator honour at both the North West and Yorkshire heats of the Great British Care Awards. With players from the Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League and participants from the charity’s Inclusive Volunteering Programme with the Rugby League World Cup 2021 taking to the stage to collect the coveted trophies, these honours represent the success of the charity and sport in championing inclusion and providing opportunities.

Community Integrated Care is proudly the Official Social Care Partner of Super League, the RFL and Rugby League World Cup 2021. Now celebrating its fifth year of working with Rugby League, it has developed a range of unique programmes with partners across the sport – from forming its first dementia café to developing a host of innovative employability, social and sporting projects. 

At the heart of these partnerships is the Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League, which gives people who have learning disabilities and autism the chance to live their dreams as rugby league stars, playing a specially adapted version of the sport for the clubs that they love.  This is furthered with the creation of a world first Inclusive Volunteering Programme at a major sporting event with the Rugby League World Cup 2021. The programme is giving more than 300 people unique vocational experiences and life-changing opportunities through the tournament. 

Supported by the Department of Health and Social Care and many leading sector bodies, The Great British Care Awards represent excellence in social care. 

John Hughes, Director of Partnerships and Communities at Community Integrated Care says: “The partnership between our charity and Rugby League is unique in its impact and ambition. It not only gives hundreds of people the chance to play the sport, but to also discover and fulfil their potential through it too. 

Our congratulations go to the RFL, Super League and RLWC2021, as well as the participants, family members, clubs, and foundations, who all share this honour. We know that this only represents the start of our work together. We are excited by what we can achieve together in the years ahead.”

Super League chief commercial officer, Rhodri Jones said: “It is fantastic to see that the amazing work done by Community Integrated Care and Betfred Super League club foundations is being rightly recognised with these two prestigious awards.

Through our partnership with Community Integrated Care, the Learning Disability Super League has given countless people with learning disabilities a wonderful opportunity to play the sport they love.”