Widnes Vikings rugby league club gives weekly activity and reminiscence sessions in dementia care homes

The Super League club, Widnes Vikings, are joining forces with Community Integrated Care in a bid to improve the lives of people with dementia and autism.

Star players Patrick Ah Van, Lloyd White, Tom Gilmore and Ed Chamberlain attended the launch of the partnership, which will see care homes receive weekly visits from the club with players and coaches hosting reminiscence and activity sessions. They will produce rugby memory boxes and nostalgic themed rooms together and take residents from the care homes to watch a rugby match.

Denis Betts, head coach of Widnes Vikings, said: “On behalf of all at Widnes Vikings, I would like to welcome staff and people supported by Community Integrated Care into the Vikings Family. As a club we love to engage with our community, and through this innovative partnership, the team and I look forward to seeing the projects in action and meeting all the participants”.

Widnes Vikings will also be working with Community Integrated Care to help it become a truly inclusive club. The care provider will be delivering Dementia Friends and disability awareness training to every staff member at the club, including the first team, a landmark commitment from a professional sports team. The club is also creating voluntary positions for people with care and support needs, and will be encouraging its local partners to back this social inclusion effort.

John Hughes, head of communications and marketing for Community Integrated Care, said: “Community Integrated Care and Widnes Vikings are two leading organisations that were formed in Halton and are at the heart of the local community.

“As the biggest care provider in the area and one of the borough’s biggest employers, we believe that this partnership has the potential to make an unparallelled social impact. We are thrilled that Widnes Vikings share our ambitions to deliver a programme that transforms lives. We believe that this is a sector leading partnership, and thank the club for their passion, ambition and commitment.”

The organisations have also committed to working together to make a difference in the wider community. They will be hosting a monthly ‘Chemics Cafe’, which will provide vital advice and support to people affected by dementia, as well as offer opportunities to socialise and reminisce about the game with legendary players. They will also be enabling people who access care and support services to follow their passion for the game.

Community Integrated Care is one of Britain’s biggest health and social care charities, supporting over 5,000 people across England and Scotland who have learning disabilities, mental health concerns, autism, and age-related needs, such as dementia.

The charity was founded in Widnes in 1988 and remains the biggest social care provider in Halton.

Widnes Vikings are one of the most successful Super League rugby clubs. Formed in 1875, the club has a proud history of winning top honours in the sport and remains a mainstay of rugby league’s elite league. The club has been nationally praised for its successful community engagement work.