The partnership between UK sportswear brand SUDU and charity Sported hopes to drive accessibility for young people
A UK sportswear brand and charity have teamed up to help inspire the next generation.
Manchester-headquartered SUDU and charity Sported, who use physical activity to provide free resources and support over 550,000 young people, have launched an initiative called ‘Project Fair Play’.
The idea is to make running more accessible and inclusive for the next generation across the Northwest and beyond.
Through the partnership, SUDU and Sported will roll out a grant programme for grassroots running clubs, which will see eligible community running groups invited to apply for £1000 grants.
This will be alongside the additional award of a Deep Impact grant that helps an existing Manchester-based Sported-supported grassroots club, enabling an additional 1000 young people to participate in running in the first year.
To ensure its effectiveness, SUDU will also work with Sported to commission and fund research investigating the disparity between running and other sports.
This will involve how running generates a positive social impact, with research funding allocated to facilitate the development of a comprehensive plan addressing these gaps, enhancing accessibility for all running groups across Northwest England and beyond.
The overall aim:
- Making running accessible to everyone
- Fostering community cohesion
- Endorsing health and wellbeing
- Addressing inequality in sports participation
- Reducing crime and anti-social behaviour
Vinny Clark, CEO of Levy Merchandising of which SUDU sits within, said: “Our goal is not only to help build communities but to champion mental health and wellbeing and to create a safe space for young people. We hope we can empower dreams to take flight by providing much needed tools, equipment, insights and more.”
Clark added: “If you’re part of a community group with running at its heart, we want to hear from you! As part of phase one of the project we will be providing a number of £1000 grants to running groups in the Northwest, actively addressing three out of five of the above societal issues outlined by Sported.”
Mark Woods, Head of Marketing at Sported, added: “Opening the doors to more young people to take up running is one way to address inequalities in participation as well as improving physical and mental wellbeing. When the SUDU team first approached us to discuss what they’d like to achieve, it was clear they’d be a well-suited partner with ‘fair play’ a core value that’s been ingrained in SUDU from day one as a Levy brand.
“We share the same goals – they’re all about inclusivity, diversity and giving everyone a fair chance in life. Through this programme, we can make a real difference and we’re excited about what we can achieve working together.”
To find out more about Project Fair Play, visit here.
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