Trust on the ball with Castleford Tigers
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has teamed up with rugby league club Castleford Tigers to help boost the health and wellbeing of service users at two of its low secure inpatient units at Fieldhead, Wakefield.
Newhaven is a low secure rehabilitation service for adults with learning disabilities and the Bretton Centre provides care for men with severe mental health conditions who require care under low secure conditions. As part of their recovery pathway activities are planned for residents and include art, football, music sessions and creative writing.
Staff are always looking for new and exciting activities to add to the regular weekly program that will motivate and improve the quality of life for those on the unit. After one service user expressed a passion for rugby staff sought out a way to provide sessions at the unit and teamed up with Castleford Tigers to facilitate a group.
Professional community development coaches from the Tigers Trust, the registered charity of Castleford Tigers, have been invited to provide a series of six sessions, to teach and develop rugby skills to service users on the unit.
Physical activity, such as rugby, can make a big difference to mental and physical wellbeing and staff have already seen how exercise can bring many positive benefits to people who use services, particularly helping them build confidence and higher levels of self-esteem.
The weekly hour long sessions will be great a great opportunity to develop relationships among service users of the two different services and staff at the same time as encouraging group work and team building.
Speaking about the rugby sessions David Ogden, head occupational therapist said, “At Newhaven we are always looking for different activities that can motivate and engage residents. The rugby sessions will give them the chance to try their hand at brand new activities and learn new skills or develop existing ones. It’s great that we are able to work in partnership with a local club, that is supported by a number of lads on the unit, and deliver new opportunities.”
Alex Green, Community Manager for Castleford Tigers and the Tigers Trust said: “We are delighted to join forces with the Trust to introduce its service users to the game of rugby league. Our aim is to improve not only the physical health of the participants but also their social and emotional wellbeing. By the end of the six sessions we’re confident the attendees will have started to feel fitter, with increased confidence, motivation and self esteem. We hope that this is just the beginning of their involvement in playing rugby league and supporting Castleford Tigers.”
Go to www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk for further information about the Trust and membership.
