Sale Sharks will deliver a rugby programme for children and young adults with complex and severe learning disabilities in early 2018.
The 10-week initiative between Sale Sharks Community Trust and Cheadle Hulme charity Seashell Trust forms part of the ‘In the Pack’ programme which has been a huge hit across the north west since it was launched in November 2016.
With the Seashell Trust logo featuring on Sale Sharks’ away shirt for the 2017/18 season, Community Trust Inclusion Officer, Vicky Irwin, welcomed the extension of the partnership.
She said: “We are very pleased to work with Seashell Trust as part of ‘In the Pack’.
“During the first 12 months of the programme Coaches from Sale Sharks Community Trust have worked with almost 2,000 individuals, with a total of 1,700 having a disability or additional need in eight venues.
“Our coaches deliver a variety of activities, including tag rugby, wheelchair tag rugby, mixed ability rugby and walking rugby to people of all ages and abilities across the north west.”
Vicky said ‘In the Pack’ is tailored for people who have additional and special needs, both physical and learning impairments, and aims to encourage people to become more active in an inclusive way.
“Sale Sharks’ first team stars George Nott and Halani Aulika will continue their roles as Disability Ambassadors into the new year,” said Vicky, “and will be joined by several volunteers from the Academy to deliver the 10-week Seashell Trust Programme.
George, along with teammates Jonny Leota, David Seymour and Alexander Tarus visited excited youngsters from the Seashell Trust earlier this month.
He said: “I’ve personally supported the Community Trust’s work in disability sport for three years now, so I’ve seen for myself what a difference rugby can make to peoples’ lives. We are all very much looking forward to the start of this programme.”
Stephen Pearson, Seashell’s CADS Development Officer said: “Opportunities to partner with a club like Sale Sharks which has such a great community programme do not come along very often. It’s so important to provide new and diverse activities to stretch, challenge and motivate our children and young people. They can’t wait for them to return.”
