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YPO and Trinity agree three year partnership

News
Ashley Wilkins
02 Nov 2026

YPO has signed a three-year partnership with Wakefield Trinity Community Foundation, allowing it to expand support across their Community Projects, Education, Inclusion and Rugby League departments.

By becoming the Foundation's Principal Partner, YPO consolidates 12 months of successful collaboration, during which the Wakefield-based public sector buying organisation served as an Inclusion Partner.

Looking ahead, this three-year partnership further strengthens the YPO’s relationship with the Foundation, the charitable arm of Super League champions, Wakefield Trinity Rugby League Club.

It brings together two organisations with a shared commitment to supporting young people, promoting inclusion and creating meaningful opportunities across local communities, while making a lasting difference to families in the Wakefield District and beyond.

The expanded partnership will see YPO further its support of the Foundation beyond our Inclusion delivery and into our Community Projects, Education and Inclusion departments.

YPO and the Foundation’s partnership has already supported the delivery of PE lessons and multi-sport activities into SEND Schools, including tag rugby and wheelchair rugby.
Sessions are tailored to meet individual pupils’ needs, while also supporting teaching staff with inclusive approaches to physical activity.

To mark the new partnership, Foundation staff visited YPO as the first stop on Wakefield Trinity's Grand Final trophy tour earlier this month. YPO employees, many of whom are Trinity supporters, had the opportunity to be photographed with the trophy.

A signed Trinity shirt donated by the Foundation was raffled to raise funds for a YPO colleague whose husband is living with motor neurone disease. The raffle raised £960 to support him and their young family.

Earlier this year, the two organisations launched dual-branded rugby balls and sports bibs, which were donated to SEND schools across West Yorkshire as part of the Foundation's inclusive sports delivery programme.

Beyond the visits, YPO and Wakefield Trinity Community Foundation are committed to creating a lasting sporting legacy within schools by providing equipment that enables students and staff to continue activities independently long after Foundation-led sessions have ended.

Alongside providing positive sporting experiences for SEND pupils, the Foundation's work also creates pathways into Wakefield Trinity's Physical Disability, Learning Disability and Wheelchair Rugby League teams.

The Foundation's wider inclusions programmes, include Together At Trin – a SEND youth club - and Tryz - its pan-disability rugby league session. These create further opportunities for young people to remain active, develop confidence and build social connections through sport.

Other inclusive events throughout the year include the Physical Disability Rugby League Festival, Learning Disability Rugby League Festival and its annual Walk with Wakey fundraising event.

Earlier this year, YPO colleagues took part in Walk with Wakey and helped raise £5,510 for Zarach, the charity behind the Wakefield Children's Bed Appeal.

Ashley Cartwright, YPO’s Head of Procurement and Supply Solutions, commented: "We are pleased to announce this new three-year partnership with the Foundation as its Principal Partner.

“Our relationship over the last 12 months has demonstrated the positive impact that can be achieved when organisations work together with a shared commitment to inclusion and community development.

“We look forward to building on these foundations, expanding the reach of rugby league and creating a long-term legacy that benefits schools, young people and communities throughout Yorkshire."

Luke Shale, Wakefield Trinity Community Foundation CEO, added: “We are thrilled to further expand our Partnership with YPO and welcome such a prestigious brand as the Foundation’s Principal Partner.

“The support and backing from YPO as our Inclusion Partners have allowed the Foundation to provide specialist rugby league and multi-sports delivery within our Partner SEND Schools, ensuring that all children have the opportunity to access our sport.

“Now aligned with the Foundation as our Principal Partners, YPO will support our range of community programmes and projects across not only our Inclusion department, but across the Community Projects, Education and Rugby League sectors too.

“On behalf of everyone at the Foundation, I’d like to say a huge thanks to John, Ryan, Ash and the entire team at YPO for their valuable backing, whose support will make a tangible positive impact to thousands of people across the Wakefield District and beyond.”

Ashley Wilkins YPO

Author

Ashley Wilkins

PR and Communications Officer for Public Sector

YPO

Ashley is a PR and Communications officer for the public sector side of the organisation. This involves supporting communications to local authorities, emergency services, housing, NHS and the wider public sector. Ashley is responsible for assisting with PR and media relations, stakeholder communications and public affairs, content strategy and creation, research, as well as corporate comms such as strategic partnerships, sponsorship, events, awards and delivering the annual report.