Northampton Saints will be partnering with Mencap once again this academic year, with the Club’s community department set to deliver the All Move programme to twice as many local schools in 2021/22.
Last season, another important programme was added to the Club’s repertoire in All Move, which sees participants with learning difficulties from SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability) schools across the county take part in a sport and physical activity challenge.
Following the successful delivery, Saints will now focus the programme on up to ten SEND schools across the Club’s catchment area, while also taking in schools from Suffolk by utilising the community department’s new Suffolk Hub.
Ten students with a learning difficulty or Autistic spectrum disorder at each school will be supported to complete a virtual marathon of 26 hours of fun, physical activity.
Each hour equates to one mile of the marathon, and Saints’ Inclusion Officers will work with the schools involved to create a bespoke programme of both virtual and in-person (COVID-safe) sessions, while this year’s programme will also include launch and celebration events for the students and schools involved.
“Earlier this year we saw students participating in the All Move programme benefit from increased confidence and long-lasting exercise habits, all thanks to trying new activities,” said Jamie Higgins, Community Inclusion Officer at Northampton Saints.
“Exercise can be a tonic for anyone’s mental health and so to be expanding our offering of All Move to even more schools in 2021/22 is incredibly exciting.”
Jamie Higgins, Community Inclusion Officer
“We’re absolutely delighted to be partnering with Mencap again. Any children with a learning disability can miss out on physical activity opportunities that many people take for granted, and the All Move programme is a great way to get them involved.”
The All Move programme has been funded using the income raised from Mencap’s partnership with the 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon, which has provided the opportunity to support up to ten SEND schools (students aged 11-16) in Northamptonshire and Suffolk; Saints Community department is asking schools or other qualifying organisations to register their interest in the programme quickly to avoid missing out.
Chris Ballet, Project Manager for All Move, added: “Following the success of Saints’ All Move delivery in Northamptonshire schools during 2020/21, we are looking forward to this upscaled model in 2021/22.
“Building upon last year, Mencap is seeking for All Move to help promote increased connectedness between young people with a learning disability and the physical activity opportunities they have access to, within All Move provision and beyond it in the community.”
For more information on the programme or to register your school or organisation’s interest in taking part, please email [email protected]. You can also find more details on Mencap's All Move programme HERE.
Please note, a minimum of ten students with a learning disability or autism is required per school or organisation to qualify for the programme.
