Sale Sharks sponsor, Printerland, has committed to promoting inclusion through sport via a new partnership with Works4U Support Services, an alternative education provider in Tameside.
Printerland has given away 200 tickets for the 2018/19 Sale Sharks season to Sports and Behaviour Management students at the specialist provision centre in Stalybridge. The centre offers an alternative to mainstream education for young people aged 14-24 with significant learning barriers, including moderate-severe learning difficulties, mental health struggles and confidence issues.
This collaboration is part of Printerland’s ongoing inclusion programme, which aims to introduce more young people to sport across Greater Manchester.
Students attended a Sale Sharks training session in October, where they met several players, and will attend their first game on Saturday 24 November, Sale Sharks vs Northampton Saints.
Khalil Hussain, operations manager at Printerland, said: “This collaboration with Works4U Support Services is a fantastic opportunity to engage local young people in sport, whilst supporting our inclusion efforts. We’re excited for the Sports and Behaviour Management students to watch the Sale Sharks team in action throughout the season, and hopefully be inspired by what they see.
“To date, we have given away over 20,000 tickets to a variety of schools and community groups across the North West. We have ambitious plans to roll this activity out further as the 2018/19 season progresses, and look forward to working with many more young people from all walks of life in the months to come.”
Wendy Mackie, managing director of Works4U Support Services, said: “Our partnership with Printerland is excellent news for our young people. Many have never attended a rugby game before, so it’s a great opportunity to introduce them to the sport.
“Sport is an integral part of our curriculum, with many of our students demonstrating a real interest in the industry. We are grateful to Printerland.co.uk for its generous gift and commitment to ongoing support. It’s also fantastic to be involved in a project that celebrates inclusion, something that we’re extremely passionate about at Works4U.”
