A partnership between UK sportswear brand SUDU and charity Sported hopes to boost access for young people.
A UK sportswear brand and a charity have teamed up to help inspire the next generation.
Manchester-based SUDU and Sported, a charity that uses physical activity to provide free resources and support to more than 550,000 young people, launched an initiative called Project Fair Play.
The idea is to make running more accessible and inclusive for the next generation in the North West and beyond.
Through the partnership, SUDU and Sported will run a grant program for grassroots running clubs, where eligible community groups will be invited to apply for £1,000 grants.
This will be alongside an additional Deep Impact grant award, which is helping the Manchester-based grassroots club supported by Sported, enabling an extra 1,000 young people to run in the first year.
To ensure its effectiveness, SUDU will also work with Sported to commission and fund research that examines the disparity between running and other sports.
This will include how running creates positive social impact by allocating research funding to facilitate the development of a comprehensive plan to address these gaps, increasing access for all running groups in North West England and beyond.
General purpose:
- Make running accessible to everyone
- Promoting community cohesion
- Affirmation of health and well-being
- Redressing inequality in sport participation
- Reducing crime and anti-social behaviour
Vinny Clark, CEO of Levy Merchandising, which houses SUDU, said: “Our aim is not only to help build communities, but also to protect mental health and wellbeing and 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 a heart for running, we want to hear from you. As part of the first phase of the programme, we will be awarding a series of £1,000 grants to groups across the North West actively addressing three of the five societal issues outlined above by Sported.”
Mark Woods, Sported’s head of marketing, added: “Opening the door for more young people to run is one way to tackle the disparity in participation and improve physical and mental well-being. When the SUDU team first approached us to discuss what they would like to achieve, it was clear that they would be a good fit with the core value of ‘fair play’ that has been ingrained in SUDU since day one as a Levy brand.
“We share the same goals. they are all about inclusion, diversity and giving everyone a fair chance in life. Through this program we can make a real difference and we are excited about what we can achieve by working together.”
To learn more about Project Fair Play, visit here.
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