Trust teams up with Vikings to support local schools

A UNIQUE partnership will raise money for local schools and encourage children to get involved with sport through watching rugby this year.

Halton Housing Trust has teamed up with Widnes Vikings and together they aim to attract more children to watch home games at the Stobart Stadium during the 2011 season.

Schools will be given the chance to sell tickets to pupils for the Vikings’ home games and keep 30% of the money that is raised.

“It will work in a similar way to the school voucher system that you see used in supermarkets,” said Rob Fuller, part of the community team at the Vikings.

“We are on the cusp of successful times at the club and we want as many people as possible to share the experiences with us.”

Widnes Vikings find out on March 31 whether they will be in the Super League making 2011 a particularly exciting year for all the fans.

The club will unveil more special offers as the season gets into full swing.

Noel Sharpe, Director of Customer Services at Halton Housing Trust, said: “The ‘Schools Promotion’ opens up a fantastic range of opportunities for us to further engage with young people across Widnes and Runcorn. 

“We already work with a number of local schools to encourage young people to get involved and to contribute to their community and the relationship with the Vikings will further add to this.

“We have a longstanding relationship with the Vikings and are really looking forward to continuing this during the 2011 season and beyond as we both go from strength to strength.”

Schools in and around the Halton area have already received a letter from the club detailing the promotion, alongside a full 2011 fixture list and order forms.

Through the Vikings’ Valhalla Foundation, its community team has committed to working more closely with schools to help them and the wider community of Halton.

Widnes Vikings’ Chief Executive Julie Gaskell said:  “This season is all about engaging further with our community and getting people into the stadium and this offer incentivises schools by giving them a direct benefit in cash.

“I would encourage as many people as possible to come along and cheer on the team in what promises to be an action-packed year for the club.”