Manchester-headquartered UK sportswear brand, SUDU, has launched ‘Project Fair Play’ – a joint initiative with sports charity Sported.
Using sport and physical activity to help over 550,000 young people overcome barriers, out of 3,000 clubs Sported supports, only 50 focus on running. With this in mind, Project Fair Play 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. Alongside this it will seek out and support more running-based groups, onboarding them as Sported members.
Vinny Clark, CEO of Levy Merchandising of 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 of the below societal issues outlined by Sported.”
- 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 1,000 young people to participate in running. Grants can be used across various areas 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 grant programme rollout, SUDU will also work with Sported to commission and fund research investigating the disparity between running and other sports in terms of generating a positive social impact. The funding allocated to this research will enable the development of a 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 its SRM 01 running shoe and a 15-piece apparel collection – SUDU customers can donate ‘Sweat Points’. These are earnt through the purchase of SUDU products which can be converted into pounds, to Sported.
www.sudu.co.uk/sported-partnership
