FLUTTER PARTNERSHIP WITH LEEDS RHINOS FOUNDATION SAVES VITAL COMMUNITY PROGRAMM

Flutter, the parent company of Leeds-based betting and gaming operator Sky Bet, is donating a £25,000 lifeline to Leeds Rhinos Foundation to save vital community sports programmes for people with dementia and Parkinson’s.

The funding was announced as Flutter employees took part in a special volunteer day at AMT Headingley Stadium, where they met with many of the people who will continue to benefit from four key pilot projects that faced immediate closure. 

They include:

• A 12 week ‘Motivate’ programme endorsed by Leeds Teaching Hospitals' Rheumatology Department to support and educate people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
• A year-long weekly physical activity programme for people living with Parkinson’s Disease to improve and maintain physical activity levels.
• Monthly ‘In Touch’ dementia support group sessions attended by over 50 people living with dementia alongside their families.
• Support for weekly ‘Reminiscence Café’ gatherings as part of their dementia services.

The Leeds Rhinos Foundation was set up 20 years ago with a vision to change lives through the power of sport.

Dan Busfield from Leeds Rhinos Foundation explained the significant impact the five-figure donation from Flutter will have securing the immediate future of those programmes in their local community.

“Without this funding from Flutter, four of our key pilot programmes – which support people tackling conditions including dementia and Parkinson's – faced immediate closure.

“This support means vital programs like these can now continue to make a difference in the lives of local people who engage with them.” 

While attending a volunteer day at the foundation with several Flutter colleagues, Steve Birch, Chief Commercial Officer of Sky Bet, said:  “This charity partnership presented itself as a brilliant opportunity to further support both sport and charity in the communities where we operate.”   

“It’s been a privilege to join my colleagues to volunteer today and see first-hand how the 12 week ‘Motivate’ programme will help people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis, to understand why their adult physical activity programme will continue to change the lives of people living with Parkinson’s and to recognise the lifeline their monthly ‘In Touch’ sessions and weekly support groups run at their ‘Reminiscence Café’ has on those with dementia and their wider families.”