Manchester-headquartered sportswear brand SUDU has launched Project Fair Play – a joint initiative with charity Sported, which provide resources and free support to the UK’s largest network of community groups.
Using sport and physical activity to help over 550,000 young people overcome barriers to reach their potential, out of 3,000 clubs Sported supports, only 50 focus on running. And so the project aims to transform community sport by making running accessible and inclusive for young people across Greater Manchester and beyond.
Through the partnership, SUDU will work with Sported to fund one Deep Impact Grant to support an existing Manchester-based Sported-supported grassroots club, and will alongside this seek out and support more running-based groups, onboarding them as Sported members and injecting extra support.
Vinny Clark, CEO of Levy Merchandising, which SUDU sits within, said: “Our goal is not only to help build communities, but to champion mental health and wellbeing and to create a safe space for young people. We hope we can empower dreams to take flight by providing much needed tools, equipment, insights and more.”
Clark added: “If you’re part of a community group with running at its heart, we want to hear from you. As part of phase one of the project we will be providing a number of £1,000 grants to running groups in the Northwest actively addressing three out of five societal issues outlined by Sported.”
The issues Clark alluded to are:
- Making running accessible to everyone
- Fostering community cohesion
- Endorsing health and wellbeing
- Addressing inequality in sports participation
- Reducing crime and anti-social behaviour
In year one, it is hoped the project will enable at least an estimated 1,000 young people to participate in running with grants that can be used across elements including but not limited to venue hire, participant/activity costs, coaching costs, volunteer expenses, equipment or infrastructure, kit, marketing and communications, training and qualifications, insurance and affiliation.
Mark Woods, head of marketing at Sported, said: “Opening the doors to more young people to take up running is one way to address inequalities in participation as well as improving physical and mental wellbeing. When the SUDU team first approached us to discuss what they’d like to achieve, it was clear they’d be a well-suited partner with Fair Play a core value that’s been ingrained in SUDU from day one as a Levy brand.
“We share the same goals – they’re all about inclusivity, diversity and giving everyone a fair chance in life. Through this programme, we can make a real difference and we’re excited about what we can achieve working together.”
Complimentary to the project’s grant programme rollout and to ensure its effectiveness, SUDU will also work with Sported to commission and fund research investigating the disparity between running and other sports in how it generates a positive social impact. The funding allocated to this research will enable the development of a comprehensive plan to address these gaps and enhance accessibility for all running groups across Northwest England and beyond.
Having launched its first ‘Run’ collection earlier this year – including the best-selling SRM 01 running shoe and a 15-piece apparel collection – SUDU customers can also now support the race towards fairness for all by donating ‘Sweat Points’, earned through the purchase of SUDU products which can be converted into pounds, to Sported.
