Busiest summer ever
- Summer 2021 busiest ever for Wigan Warriors Community Foundation.
- Record number of sessions and participants.
- Eight different types of activity throughout the summer.
Summer 2021 provided a record number of sessions and participants as Wigan Warriors Community Foundation hosted eight different types of activity throughout June, July, August and September!
It proved to be busiest period ever for our Foundation, with player camps, community camps and SEND & Disability camps just a few of the different sessions taking place throughout the summer months.
There were also Year 7 transition days with local high schools including St Michaels CE and St John Fisher, as well as camps in partnership with Platt Bridge Community Primary School and Platt Bridge Start Well Centre.
In total, our Foundation delivered holiday activities to over 2,000 people across the UK, ranging from Wigan to Chorley and Cumbria to South Wales.
There were an additional 300 young people involved through the Wigan Council Holiday Activity Food Programme (HAF), which provides free places on camps and free meals for children across the Wigan Borough. Through the HAF, the Foundation has been able to run the SEND & Disability specific camp with a total of 84 children and young people attending throughout the full duration of the summer holidays. Children and young people took part in free, accessible sport sessions with specialist coaches on hand to support their needs throughout the camp.
Overall, the Foundation has worked worked with 14 community clubs across the UK, including clubs as far as Cumbria and South Wales. The clubs involved were:
Wigan and Chorley
- Ashton Bears
- Ince Rose Bridge
- Orrell St James
- Shevington Sharks
- St Judes
- Wigan St Pats
- St Cuthberts
- Chorley Panthers
- Leigh Miners
Cumbria
- Kells ARLFC
- Askam
- Dalton
- Heysham Atoms
South Wales
- Aber Valley Wolves
One of the Foundation’s most popular sessions during the school holidays was the player camps where children attended Robin Park Arena – the home of Wigan Warriors – for two days of high-quality Rugby League coaching. As part of these camps this summer, participants were able to watch first team training sessions, meet and play alongside a number of first team players and have a tour of the training facilities – all to give the children an insight of what it is like to be a member of the Wigan Warriors squad.
Mike Stoneley, community outreach officer, said: “The support we have had from the first team players for the duration of the summer holidays has been great. It creates a lasting memory for so many young people and inspires them to remain active in Rugby League.
“We would also like to extend our thanks to all our partners throughout the summer including Wigan Council’s HAF programme, all community clubs, Platt Bridge Community Primary School and Platt Bridge Start Well Centre. We would also like to thank St Michaels CE High School in Chorley and St John Fisher Catholic High School for allowing us to support their Year 7 transition days.”
A gallery of the full six weeks of camps can be viewed by clicking HERE. Details for the Community Foundation’s camps in October will be released in due course.
