Never Watch Alone
Never Watch Alone
 
Accessible Communication
Person Centred Plan
              
 
Advocacy
Housing
  
 
Children & Families
Good Health
Fulfilling Lives Through Sport

This is the archive for older news releases about the Never Watch Alone Initiative.

Click here to go back to the current page.
Employment
Transition

The "Successful" Never Watch Alone Launch Events!!

The football launchThe rugby launch
(left) The football launch, 22nd March 2009, (right) the rugby launch, 27th March 2009

The Wigan Learning Disability Partnership Board is proud to reflect on both of the successful launches of the Never Watch Alone Initiative.

This unique initiative was launched in collaboration with the National Association of Disabled Supporters (NADS), Wigan Athletic Football Club and Wigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club.

The Never Watch Alone Initiative aims to connect supporters with a learning disability to attend matches alongside their fellow supporters.

This became a reality on Sunday 22nd March 2009 at the match between Wigan Athletic and Hull City FC and on Friday 27th March 2009 at the match between Wigan Warriors and Huddersfield Giants RLFC.

At the match between Latics and Hull, over 20 supporters came together to buddy up to experience the match day together. For the launch, the football club kindly provided everyone with complimentary tickets and the Initiative was featured in the matchday programme.

At the match between the Warriors and the Giants, over 25 supporters were able to buddy up to experience the Friday evening game. In the build-up to the launch, the Never Watch Alone co-ordinator Terry Mann worked closely with the Wigan Warriors Community Development Team, Mike Watson and Amanda Wilkinson. In the pre-match warm-up, the Warriors players wore T-shirts with the Never Watch Alone logo to raise awareness of the Initiative, and tickets for the match were compilmentary, both kindly sponsored by HJ Heinz. Prior to kick-off, the Never Watch Alone Initiative co-ordinator Terry Mann was involved in a pre-match presentation at pitchside. The initiative also featured in the matchday programme and was also promoted over the public address system. The logo even made an appearance on the scoreboard! During half-time, everyone was able to parade around the stadium with the Never Watch Alone banner (as pictured above).

Wigan Warriors & Never Watch Alone
Pictured (l-r) are Terry Mann (Never Watch Alone co-ordinator), Andy Coley (prop, Wigan Warriors), Joyce Pickles (Wigan Warriors Commercial Manager), Amanda Wilkinson (Wigan Warriors Community Development Team), Brian Noble (Head Coach, Wigan Warriors) and Chris Humphries (Development Manager from Heinz)

Chris Humphries, Development Manager for HJ Heinz Ltd. - "We at Heinz are delighted to be associated with the Wigan Warriors in this innovative campaign that will hopefully touch the lives of many people across Wigan. We hope that as many people as possible get involved in the Never Watch Alone campaign, especially as the buddies can offer an experience like no other for people with a learning disability."

Brian Noble, Wigan Warriors Head Coach. - "Initiatives like this one provide very special opportunities for people with a learning disability to come along to the JJB and cheer our boys on. The partnership with Heinz is well established and developing all the time - and we're thankful for their support with this campaign."

Wigan Warriors - Press Release
Ethnicity & Diversity
Workforce Planning & Training
   
Fulfilling Lives
 

The Wigan Learning Disability Partnership Board in collaboration with the The National Association of Disabled Supporters (NADS), and both Wigan Warriors Rugby League Club and Wigan Athletic Football Club, is proud to reflect on a successful launch evening of the Never Watch Alone Initiative.

The Never Watch Alone Initiative will enable supporters with a learning disability to attend matches alongside their fellow supporters, with the ultimate goal of developing a range of friendships, activities and relationships.

The evening, held at the JJB Stadium on 2nd February, enabled over 80 people to find out more about the project and register their interest. Guests were also treated to an excellent performance by the More Than Words Theatre Group and the appearance and support from Andy Coley & Chris Kirkland. Terry Mann, coordinator of the Never Watch Alone Initiative, was delighted by the evening. “Following the fantastic turn out and keen interest shown, we are confident that before very long we will start to see a significant increase in the number of people with learning disabilities in Wigan & Leigh watching football and rugby matches alongside their fellow supporters".

The initiative has received support from Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Andy Burnham: "A shared passion for sport unites people from all backgrounds and this is what the Never Watch Alone Initiative is all about. It is a fantastic initiative and I commend Wigan Learning Disability Partnership Board, the National Association of Disabled Supporters, Wigan Athletic Football Club and Wigan Warriors Rugby League Club for coming together to take this forward. I am sure it will prove a fulfilling experience for everyone involved and will bring about many lasting friendships."

The Never Watch Alone Initiative will be launched alongside the National Association of Disabled Supporters’ disability awareness “Level Playing Field Campaign” on Sunday 22nd March at the match between Wigan Athletic and Hull City and at the Warriors game against Huddersfield on 27th March.

  
"Inclusion is in the journey, not in the goal." Judith Snow 1996
copyright 2009 Wigan Council
Designed by Chameleon Design