Saints Wheelchair Rugby is delighted to announce that two new rugby wheelchairs have been donated to the Club by Wooden Spoon Northamptonshire, after the charity raised funds at its annual golf day.
The Club was presented with the new wheelchairs at half-time of Northampton Saints’ home match against Bath Rugby (on Saturday 23 February) by Chris Fountain, chairman of Wooden Spoon Northamptonshire.
"Thanks to the generous support of Wooden Spoon, we will be able to give more young people the opportunity to get involved in the sport."
Connor Fleming, head of community
Saints currently deliver a Wheelchair Rugby programme once a week for both adults and juniors, and another four-week programme in three SEN schools, while the side played their first-ever Derby Day fixtures against Leicester Tigers on Sunday.
With extra funding Saints Wheelchair Rugby is hoping to extend into six schools, which will help 180 children benefit from the new equipment over a two-year period, and the Club’s head of community Connor Fleming believes the donation can make a huge difference.
“Saints Wheelchair Rugby has continued to grow from strength to strength over the last two years,” he said.
“Now, thanks to the generous support of Wooden Spoon and their donation of two Wheelchair Rugby wheelchairs, we will be able to give more young people the opportunity to get involved in the sport – both through our schools programme and through the Saints Wheelchair Rugby juniors programme.”
Saints Wheelchair Rugby is designed to encourage a growing participation level within the region for people with disabilities.
The Club also intends to increase opportunities for people with disabilities to access competitive sport, and promote social interaction and engagement for isolated members of the community.
Chris Fountain added: “Disadvantaged children are the winners here, since two new wheelchairs will help expand wheelchair rugby for Northamptonshire children and adults.
"Wheelchair Rugby is a great team sport and gives people who are disadvantaged camaraderie, and benefits their well-being and fitness."
Chris Fountain, Wooden Spoon Northamptonshire chairman
“It is a great team sport and gives people who are disadvantaged camaraderie, and benefits their well-being and fitness. Wooden Spoon are proud to work in partnership with Northampton Saints on this project.”
Wooden Spoon is the children’s charity of rugby, funding life-changing projects across the UK and Ireland to support children and young people with disabilities or facing disadvantage.
They fund a range of initiatives, which are not just rugby focused – supporting approximately 70 projects a year including respite and medical treatment centres, sensory rooms, specialist playgrounds and community-based programmes.
If you or your school are interested in getting involved in Wheelchair Rugby then please contact Jamie Higgins – [email protected] – 01604 599142
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