Bears make great Family Friends!

MJ Black

Perhaps more than many other sports, rugby league has a family feel to it – once a male dominated sport, women and children are very much in evidence at games.

They are all part of a bigger rugby league family and Coventry Bears have been actively extending that family and friends across Coventry and Warwickshire, whether it’s attending their games, joining in with fitness sessions or being one of the thousands of youngsters enjoying their first touch of a rugby ball.

But there are some lonely people out there, and that’s why the Bears are teaming up with Age Coventry UK for the next home game. Age UK Coventry are the Bears’ Charity Ambassadors and they do great work locally.

Age Coventry UK provide advice on matters facing older people and their relatives and carers free of charge, and they also help older and elderly people keep more independent for longer. They also run a ‘befriending’ scheme, where befrienders are paired with older people to help combat loneliness.

It is this ‘befriending’ that Coventry are supporting at their next home game against Keighley on 7th May.

The spirit of the event takes Age Concern’s befriending scheme, and the combatting of loneliness as its inspiration – it’s about inviting an older person, maybe a relative or a neighbour, and inviting them along for their first taste of a Bears game.

Tickets will be at the discounted price of only £9.00 for this special event to encourage new people to attend.

There will also be a charity raffle on the day with all proceeds going to the Age UK Coventry.

The spirit of the event is about encouraging new friends, family and the older and more vulnerable people in the community to come along.

You can buy e-tickets online using the club’s new Eventbrite service or visit www.coventrybears.com.