Davanti Make It Happen campaign boosts Wigan Warriors Community Foundation

Partnership supplies free PE kits to local primary schools

Wigan Warriors Community Foundation and Davanti Tyres have teamed up to donate 300 free PE kits across several local primary schools. Davanti became the rugby league club’s official tyre partner ahead of the 2021 season. Its Make It Happen campaign provided additional funding to support the foundation’s work. The tyre brand’s contribution has helped ease the burden on families in some of the town’s most economically challenged communities. It follows on from Wigan Warriors Community Foundation’s successful summertime Holiday Hunger programme which provided free holiday activities and packed lunches across the borough.

Davanti has also committed to support the Community Foundation’s Happy Smiles delivery, a new provision across local schools which seeks to address a decline in pupil’s general wellbeing, mental health and physical fitness caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The programme will use first-team players as ambassadors to deliver alongside Community Foundation staff on assemblies, book reading, workshops and teacher training.

First team players Liam Farrell and Liam Marshall recently headed to Platt Bridge Community School to present a number of the PE kits and joined Community Foundation coaches to deliver a fun session. PE kits will be donated to five more schools within the Wigan borough.

Wigan Warriors head of community, Martin McLoughlin, said: “From our research and

regular dialogue with schools, we know that the summer holidays can be difficult for many families due to increased costs and childcare challenges.

“The incredible support from Davanti Tyres has allowed us to build on our existing

summertime delivery to provide more camps across the borough, whilst providing free PE kits to some of the most in need families therefore removing a financial burden from hundreds of parents and carers.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support provided by Davanti Tyres and look forward to working with them across more impactful community projects in the coming months and years.”

Alec Doyle, PR and partnerships manager for Davanti Tyres, said: “We launched the Make It Happen initiative earlier this year. Part of the reason for that was

to find a way to support projects like Wigan Warriors’ Holiday Hunger and Happy Smiles programmes.

“Davanti Tyres was founded in the North West and we have seen first-hand the impact of poverty on the region. Covid has only made the challenges families face tougher.

“It’s a privilege to work alongside Wigan Warriors Community Foundation to see the

immediate impact of Make It Happen funding in local schools. The project will also have a lasting benefit, helping to improve pupils’ mental health, social skills and activity levels as they continue their journey through primary school.”