Panathlon’s partnership with BlueBay Asset Management began in early 2021 with the announcement of a two-year agreement which has helped expand our provision of sporting activity for children with disabilities and special needs across the country.
An initial BlueBay donation of £25,000 helped kickstart Panathlon activity in locations including North Yorkshire/East Riding, Blackburn and Bolton, Coventry/Warwickshire and Basildon in Essex, plus national support in other programme areas.
BlueBay staff members have volunteered at events across the south-east of England, including Pritam Varsani at our London Football Finals in May 2022 (pictured below).
“Seeing first-hand the smiles on the kids’ faces has been fantastic,” he said. “It feels like they are all in it together. Even if someone has less ability than the next child, they all worked as a team. I genuinely have great appreciation for what I’ve seen today.”
Six BlueBay staff were part of the 33-strong Panathlon team which took part in the 100-mile RideLondon event in May 2022. They raised £7,500 for Panathlon in doing so!
Under the ‘BlueBay Cares’ name, BlueBay’s Corporate Responsibility framework comprises four pillars: “Our responsibility to our people, for our conduct, to our communities and to our environment.”
Matt Richards of BlueBay Asset Management said: “Supporting our communities is at the heart of our charitable focus, and our staff voted to make Panathlon a charity partner because of the fantastic hands-on assistance the charity provides in improving the lives of children with disabilities and special needs throughout the UK. We look forward to working with Panathlon in fundraising and volunteering in support of these young people.”
On signing the partnership with BlueBay in 2021, Panathlon CEO Ashley Iceton said: “We are delighted that BlueBay are going to be providing new specialised equipment, coaching provision and resource support in the year ahead.
“Hopefully, when conditions allow, they will also be able to offer volunteer support once again at some of our competitions so their staff will be able to see the positive impact we have on young people up close.”
BlueBay’s support funded resources to allow schools to participate in the Virtual Programme which supported schools to host their own internal Panathlon events during the pandemic.
Gillas Lane School in Sunderland, for example, received target mats to play Panathlon’s Precision Beanbag game.
