CPC & Manchester United Foundation kick off collaboration

CPC is thrilled to share news of a new football tournament initiative in tandem with the Manchester United Foundation - as we unite to inspire young learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), by way of the Beautiful Game. ⚽

We are delighted to announce we will be working in partnership with the Manchester United Foundation on an exciting three-year project, to support SEND students as part of our Giving Back efforts. Named the CPC Inclusion Cup, the first of a series of regional and national football tournaments will take place on Monday 28th April.

SEND students from the nine further education colleges of Greater Manchester have been invited to form squads to be part of this five-a-side competition, which will be played in full at Manchester United’s legendary, long-time training ground ‘The Cliff’ (a facility not open to the public, accessible by special invitation only).

Following the tournament, we will head to Old Trafford, the Theatre of Dreams, to visit the Skills Labs, followed by a tour of the world-famous stadium. The winning team in the CPC Inclusion Cup will be invited as special guests of CPC and MU Foundation to Manchester United's final Premier League game of the season, at home to Aston Villa on Sunday 28th May.

Darren Lowe, MD of Crescent Purchasing Consortium, said: “My announcement at the CPC Supplier Excellence Awards that our Giving Back charity would have a renewed focus on SEND, wellbeing and absenteeism sealed the deal on this new partnership with John Shiels from the Manchester United Foundation, as it aligned both the charities' aspirations and charitable objectives.

"I’m delighted CPC will be working with the Foundation on this project, with our three-year plan to make it a nationwide event for SEND learners across the UK, giving them a fantastic opportunity to represent their institutions in this tournament, visit Old Trafford, as well as The Cliff, and work with the Manchester United Foundation".

John Shiels, Chief Executive of the Manchester United Foundation, said: "We’re thrilled to join forces with CPC to offer what will be an amazing, collaborative and inspirational experience for the participants.

"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.

"There may be a fantastic prize up for grabs, but the entire experience could be life-changing for all involved and that’s what we aim for in everything we do".

This Giving Back-led event, supported by the Manchester United Foundation, is an another way of demonstrating CPC's commitment to the education sector and we have more exciting plans in the pipeline to build collaborative partnerships with our supply chain and stakeholders, continually building on our charitable efforts and enhancing CPC's social impact.