Warrington Wolves’ Sportwall - Encouraging children to learn!

Every week at least 160 children pass through the doors of the Warrington Wolves Halliwell Jones Stadium but not to watch their favourite team on the pitch. Warrington Wolves is home to the town’s Playing for Success Centre, which works with the Department for Education and Skills and local authority.

The centre uses the unique sports stadium environment and medium of rugby to help motivate pupils in literacy, numeracy and information and communication technology (ICT).

Forty primary and secondary school children attend two educational sessions every day from Monday to Thursday, and as part of the programme Warrington Wolves uses ZigZag’s Sportwall as a warm up exercise before their academic work and as a reward afterwards.

“The power of sport to engage people of all ages cannot be underestimated,” said Sean Mellor Community and Marketing Manager at the Wolves. “At Warrington Wolves we are using this to assist with education. We don’t want Playing for Success to be treated as an extension of school and ZigZag’s Sportwall certainly helps to set it apart. Kids love doing active things and the wall is ideal because all ages and levels of ability can get something from it - the kids simply love it.”

ZigZag’s Sportwall has also proved a great tool for building on the Wolves’ popular stadium tours.

“During the open days and stadium tours we show people the wall and they all want to have a go – children and adults,” said Sean. “It’s proved a really popular addition and we’re delighted with the sponsorship from long-time Warrington Wolves supporters, Philip Williams Insurance Management, as we couldn’t have done it without them.”