Pioneering partnerships at Conference in Lithuania

Community Integrated Care proudly shared its pioneering approaches to embedding physical activity in social care – and to building a more equitable sports system – at HEPA Europe Conference in Kaunas. HEPA Europe (the European network for the promotion of Health-Enhancing Physical Activity) is a World Health Organisation Europe network.

Their 20th annual meeting took place in Kaunas, Lithuania, from 17–19 September, and representing the charity, John Hughes, Director of Partnerships and Communities at Community Integrated Care, delivered a presentation showcasing how long-term, strategic collaborations can unlock the biggest impacts. John was joined in Kaunas by Luke Parry, Senior Partnerships and Programmes Manager, who supported engagements with researchers, policymakers and practitioners at the conference.

This included the Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League -a world-first, non-competitive rugby league programme co-created with the Rugby Football League that enables people with learning disabilities and autistic people to represent the clubs they love – and the charity’s Inclusive Volunteering ™ model, which creates tailored pathways to volunteering, skills, confidence and employment at major sporting events.

John also highlighted our current and emerging partnerships – including with British Cycling, LTA Tennis Foundation, Sport England and UK Sport – that are translating key principles of this model across sports. These collaborations are delivering inclusive programmes, event accessibility, creative development and volunteering pathways, and sharing learning across the sector.

Together, they reflect Community Integrated Care’s approach to unlocking a future where people who draw on support, and those who provide it, are heard and included at every level of sport – and where everyone who draws on support has equal access to participate, volunteer, work and learn in sport.

John Hughes, Director of Partnerships and Communities, said: “It’s an honour to attend HEPA Europe in Kaunas and to support the HEPA movement by sharing our unique insights with researchers, government officials and practitioners working in this vital field. We’re incredibly proud of what our partnerships are achieving – co-creating best-in-class physical activity options for people who draw on support. We’re bringing powerful new learning back into our charity to strengthen our ambition of ending health and social inequalities in social care by creating inclusive opportunities to be active and belong through sport.

We would like to congratulate the HEPA organisation for delivering such an inspiring event and coordinating this important movement.”