Hull FC Community Foundation has been awarded £4,560 of National Lottery funding from Sport England’s Tackling Inequalities Fund which aims to tackle inequalities in activity levels through working with its partners to reach those most in need as a result of the impact of COVID-19.
The funding award will allow for delivery of physical activity sessions, primarily touch rugby, to targeted vulnerable groups within the community who have heightened feelings of loneliness and isolation as evidenced through consultation during the lockdown period.
‘Empower’ sessions will offer new activity with the participant groups, acting as a catalyst for facilitating re-engagement in broader wellbeing and employability provision offered by the Foundation (which includes mainstream touch rugby provision).
Sport England’s work and contribution to Tackling Inequalities focuses on reducing the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on activity levels in under-represented groups, ensuring gaps between those who are active and those who are not do not widen during this period.
With a strong understanding of the needs and issues in their areas, Sport England has initially channelled £3.3m through the 43 Active Partnerships across England to support community groups in their areas as a result of the impacts of COVID-19.
This funding and support will enable community groups working with target audiences – Lower Socio-Economic Groups, Black, Asian Minority Ethnic Communities, Disabled People and People with Long-Term Health Conditions (LTC) – to continue to exist and engage with their communities with a view to keeping them active during both the lockdown and early recovery stages.
James Price, Head of Foundation, Hull FC, said: “At Hull FC Community Foundation, we pride ourselves on using the power of sport to deliver impactful projects that support people most in need.
“Thanks to National Lottery players, our ‘Empower’ project will offer a range of engaging opportunities that fuse physical sport participation with expert advice on wellbeing for for vulnerable people who have been most affected by Covid-19”.
Tim Hollingsworth, Sport England’s Chief Executive, said: “We are proud to be able to provide funding and support to Hull FC Community Foundation in this difficult period.
“This funding will help support our valuable community infrastructure that is so important in keeping the nation active and will also provide important connections and reconnections for people whose lives have been affected by COVID-19 and for whom remaining active is so important for their physical, mental and social wellbeing.
“We know from our research and data that there are existing inequalities between groups when it comes to activity levels and COVID-19 has re-inforced these.
“Thanks to the support of the National Lottery and its players, the Tackling Inequalities Fund will be both crucial and central to ensuring no-one is left behind when it comes to having the opportunity to be active during this period. This builds off the back of our £35m Community Emergency Fund that has already reached and supported over 7,500 community clubs and groups across England.”
For more details about the project please contact James Price (james.price@hullfc.com)
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