Published
By Ashley Cox
On 28th April, Crescent Purchasing Consortium worked in partnership with the Manchester United Foundation to proudly deliver the first ever CPC Inclusion Cup - an inclusive football competition day to enthuse and empower SEND learners.
This inspiring event was made possible by CPC funding, as our not-for-profit charity continues to reinvest in the education sector through its flagship Giving Back initiative and connected projects. The Inclusion Cup sought to support SEND college students by granting them access to unforgettable sporting and extracurricular opportunities, facilitating participation on a level playing field and fuelling social interaction with peers across their area. Since launching Giving Back in 2019, CPC has allocated £2m to help fund hundreds of education initiatives, underpinning our mission to enhance teaching and learning.
The CPC Inclusion Cup welcomed teams from around the Greater Manchester region, as players representing Bolton College, Bury College, Eccles Sixth Form College, Hopwood Hall College, Oldham College and Trafford College looked to make a mark on the multi-match format, while advancing fitness and teamwork, at one of English football's most famous training locations.
The event was held in the historic setting of The Cliff, Manchester United's long-time primary training ground, a facility used by United's first team right to the end of their legendary 1998-99 treble-winning season and one that was graced by many of the Old Trafford club's most celebrated and recognised figures, from Best, Law and Charlton to Robson, Beckham and Cantona.
As part of a packed day, our teams of students would be joined by former Manchester United forward Danny Webber. Webber spent four years at Old Trafford in total under Sir Alex Ferguson and featured in last September's Legends Game against Celtic, an event that generated almost £1m in aid of the work of the Manchester United Foundation. As well as getting involved in the day's football fun, the Mancunian striker, who experienced The Cliff in his formative years as a Manchester United youth player, would address the students (pictured) and help present their participation medals, while finding time to share some memories:
It’s so nostalgic to be here - Sir Alex used to watch us from these windows. So much success was born out of this place. Not a lot of people get to come and train here these days, so it’s an incredible opportunity for the students to play here.
"I’ve just had a kickabout and taken some penalties, and I can feel the energy and excitement - it’s just nice to see them playing football and being in the moment.
Congrats to prizewinners Bury College, plus Hopward Hall College, who became the overall Inclusion Cup champions and will subsequently be in attendance when Manchester United wrap up their Premier League season against Aston Villa on 25th May.
After the tournament, the students were whisked across to the Theatre of Dreams itself, enjoying a guided tour of Old Trafford mere weeks after the club's astonishing 5-4 extra-time UEFA Europa League victory over the Ligue 1 outfit Olympique Lyonnais.
Their afternoon at Old Trafford included time in the Manchester United Foundation's on-site Skills Lab, an accessible, inclusive and immersive area of the world-famous stadium, used to help facilitate learning and skill development for its visiting groups.
They even had the rare opportunity to try on jerseys worn by United legends, such as Peter Schmeichel and Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as matchworn boots, making their CPC Inclusion Cup/Manchester United Foundation experience an interactive delight.
In the end, students and CPC staff could reflect on a great day in the Manchester sun, with special opportunities and sporting exertion combining to create a memorable occasion, while launching a concept CPC hopes to roll out to other parts of the UK.
Darren Lowe, CPC Managing Director, attended the event and he said: "It passed by in a blink of an eye! If I could summarise today in one word, it would be ‘enthusiasm’. The energy has been superb, and the tournament has been a pleasure to watch.
“We’re proud at Crescent Purchasing Consortium for this to be one of the many projects we’ve funded in the education sector and to give back to communities. We look forward to the Inclusion Cup being an annual event in our three-year partnership".
John Shiels, Chief Executive of the Manchester United Foundation, said: “We’re thrilled to join forces with CPC to offer an amazing, collaborative and inspirational experience. The Foundation’s lifeblood is offering transformative opportunities and this initiative allows us to impact young people, including many from Foundation programmes and external colleges".
Matt Pilkington, Disability and Inclusion Coordinator for the Foundation, added: "Our work with CPC has become so valuable. The experiences these young people will have gained, from training sessions at college, to being at The Cliff and Old Trafford, are things they may normally not be able to access, and their attitude and the vibe today has been unbelievable".
Crescent Purchasing Consortium would like to thank the Manchester United Foundation for their outstanding support in bringing the CPC Inclusion Cup to life. Look out for a special film on the day on our YouTube channel in the weeks ahead.