In partnership with Official Social Care Partner Community Integrated Care, RLWC2021’s inclusive volunteer programme will offer training and volunteering opportunities to people who have care and support needs.

Learning Disability Super League player Oliver Thomason named as RLWC2021’s Official Inclusion Ambassador and also secures role with Community Integrated Care.

Rugby League World Cup 2021 (RLWC2021) today (4 December, 2020) furthers its commitment to building a world-class social impact programme by teaming up with Community Integrated Care to create a ground-breaking inclusive volunteer programme for the biggest and best RLWC ever.

This world-first project, supported by Sport England’s Major Events Fund, will see the social care charity create a range of accessible and aspirational volunteering opportunities for people who have care and support needs.

The project will run throughout 2021 and continue in the months following the tournament to provide ongoing mentoring and support.

Early plans include media clubs, recruitment of experts by experience to advise tournament organisers, the creation of school assemblies to educate young people on inclusion, and opportunities to volunteer with the RLWC2021 team. This will include opportunities to assist with media days and community sports events.

Participants will also have the chance to apply their skills and experience in exciting, person-centred volunteering roles – joining the RLWC2021’s ‘Power Squad’ tournament-time volunteering team. With roles coordinated by Community Integrated Care, individuals will volunteer alongside their families or support workers which adds an exciting dimension to the RLWC2021’s focus on making the event the most inclusiveRugby League tournament ever.

Playing a key role in this partnership will be Oliver Thomason, who has secured employment with Community Integrated Care as their Sports Inclusion Assistant. Oliver, who is a member of the Warrington Wolves Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League team, will help the charity to ensure that their sports partnerships are truly inclusive.

This is mirrored by Oliver also joining the RLWC2021 team as the Official Inclusion Ambassador for the tournament. Having championed the sport of rugby league and social inclusion in many ways since making his debut for his beloved Warrington Wolves, Oliver will be joining the team to now champion social inclusion on a global stage.

More details on these programmes will be released in due course from Community Integrated Care, the Official Social Care Partner of RLWC2021, the Rugby Football League and Super League.

Tracy Power, RLWC2021 Social Impact Director said: “We are extremely thankful to our partners Community Integrated Care and Sport England for making this project possible.”

“RLWC2021 is a tournament with a purpose and we are committed to making tangible and positive social impact within our host communities and this is another brilliant way of engaging new people into Rugby League through the power of the World Cup.”

“To have Oliver on board as an ambassador is extremely exciting, his powerful story perfectly epitomises the values of RLWC2021. His infectious energy and passion for the game will make Oliver a fantastic addition to the tournament’s unique inclusivity programme.”

Oliver Thomason said: “I am so proud to be working with the Rugby League World Cup 2021 and Community Integrated Care. These are dream jobs for me. I cannot wait to help people to be part of the World Cup and our brilliant projects. I am looking forward to making a difference and helping to promote this fantastic tournament.”

John Hughes, Director of Partnerships and Communities at Community Integrated Care, said: “CommunityIntegrated Care and the RLWC2021 organisers have been planning this project for almost two years. We are thrilled that with the tournament now one year away, Sport England have generously enabled us to make this dream project a reality.

“Volunteering is an important platform that can enable people to enjoy life-changing experiences, give back and fulfil their potential. We are thrilled that these benefits are now even more accessible to people who have support needs.

“It is an honour for our charity to lead such an exciting, impactful and important programme. We would like to thank the RLWC2021 team for their vision in supporting this world-first project. Our enormous gratitude is also extended to our partners at Sport England, who have made this possible.

“Following a very challenging year for many people, we hope that it gives people hope and optimism for a better 2021. We cannot wait for the project to begin.”

Jenny Betteridge, Strategic Lead for Volunteering at Sport England says: “We are delighted to be announcing this project with Community Integrated Care.  This investment will provide opportunities for over 250 disabled people to enjoy so many of the benefits we know volunteering can bring, whilst sharing their skills and time.  It’s a fantastic chance to demonstrate that there are opportunities to volunteer in sport for everyone.”

For more information follow Community Integrated Care and the Rugby League World Cup 2021 on social media. Enquiries can also be sent to Community Integrated Care at: community@c-i-c.co.uk.

ABOUT RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP 2021

The Rugby League World Cup is the pinnacle major event of rugby league, globally contested every four years. RLWC2021 will be a breakthrough moment in the tournament’s history with the men’s, women’s and wheelchair competitions being staged together for the first time.

The three tournaments will take place across 21 venues throughout England. Both the women’s and wheelchair competitions will be contested by two groups of four teams, whilst the men’s tournament will see 16 teams compete across four groups.

RLWC2021 will be the most visible rugby league event in history with all 61 games in the men’s, women’s and wheelchair competitions being broadcast live on the BBC.

Mission: Delivering the biggest and best ever Rugby League World Cup.

Vision: Creating inspirational moments that excite, engage and leave a long-lasting legacy.

ABOUT COMMUNITY INTEGRATED CARE

Community Integrated Care is one of the UK’s largest social care charities. They provide life changing careand support to almost 4,000 people who have learning disabilities, autism, mental health concerns and dementia. 

The charity Is proud to be the Official Social Care Partner of Rugby League World Cup 2021, The RFL and Super League. It has led a number of ground-breaking projects with the sport to change lives and champion social Inclusion. These have been recognised at the highest stage of the charity, care and sport sectors, with the likes of Leaders Sports Awards, Great British Care Awards and Skills for Care Accolades.

For more information visit: www.c-I-c.co.uk

OLIVER THOMASON

Born and bred in Warrington, 29-year-old all action winger Oliver is an integral part of the Warrington Wolves’ Learning Disability Super League team.

A former student at Green Lane Community special school in Warrington, Oliver begin his rugby league career as a fan, watching his team from the terraces. He had always wanted to emulate his heroes but hadn’t the opportunity to.  However upon the birth of the Learning Disability Super League (LDSL) Oliver’s dreams of pulling on the Primrose and Blue of Warrington became a reality.

Making his debut at the Halliwell Jones stadium verses Wakefield in May 2018, Thomason scored his first try for the club in 2019 on the same turf touching down verses Widnes Wikings. He has gone on to perform on such stages as Wakefield’s Mobile Rocket Stadium, the Select Security stadium in Widnes as well as the world famous, iconic Anfield stadium. Oliver’s journey truly represents the power of Rugby League to change lives and with RLWC2021 set to be the most inclusive sporting event in history, his role as ambassador for the tournament is truly powerful.

Oliver cites Warrington legend ‘Super Bennie Westwood’ as his first rugby league hero and is looking forward to seeing seconder rower Ben Currie in action at the RLWC2021.