Over the past year, WPA Foundation has been a strong supporter of Co-op Academies Trust, donating over £10,000 to academies across several regions to support student experiences. The funding has been made up of a number of different grants, allowing schools to access the equipment they need most to support physical activity, wellbeing and positive play.

The support has reached academies in a range of communities. At Co-op Academy Florence Mac Williams, funding has been used to provide new sporting equipment to strengthen PE provision and encourage pupils to be active. In Merseyside, Co-op Academy Bebington has received support for Duke of Edinburgh equipment, while Co-op Academy Woodslee has invested in early years outdoor resources and Co-op Academy Portland has improved its playground sports equipment. At Co-op Academy Rathbone, funding has helped purchase specialist items including boxing kits, climbing wall holds and football nets.

WPA funding has also supported academies in Manchester, including Co-op Academy Medlock, Co-op Academy North Manchester and Co-op Academy Walkden, helping schools enhance lunchtime activity, sports leadership opportunities and PE resources.

Richard Pinker, who donated to support Florence Mac Williams, visited the academy with his wife to see the impact the new equipment was having. Reflecting on the visit, he said:

The WPA Foundation says its support is rooted in a belief that health and sport are essential to a rounded education. Charlie MacEwan, Corporate Communications Director, explained that sport helps young people build teamwork, resilience, physical strength and self-awareness, alongside learning how to win and lose well. He added that these experiences all help young people grow into confident, capable adults, and said the Foundation is proud to be making a difference.

Across academies, staff are already seeing the impact of the funding. At Co-op Academy North Manchester, new equipment is helping to make lunchtimes more active and inclusive. 

At Co-op Academy Medlock, the funding has supported both lessons and wider school life. Assistant Head Rifat Mirza said:

“The £1700 fund has made a massive impact on both our PE curriculum as well as on our pupils’ experiences and engagement. We were able to purchase equipment to enhance our lunchtime provision, support our Sports Leaders to teach our younger pupils new skills and games and improve the resources that we could now offer on sports days. We could not have been more grateful. We now have the equipment we desperately needed.” 



The partnership has also been shaped by close working and listening to schools. In Merseyside, Regional Community Development Manager Deborah Zaher said WPA’s support has been “incredible” and praised the way WPA colleagues take time to understand individual school needs. She said that without this funding, academies would not have been able to deliver their sporting and active goals to the same extent.

In West Yorkshire, Regional Community Manager Will Goodrum shared that the funding will help more students take part in sport and exercise, supporting healthier lifestyles. In one academy, the funding has also enabled the purchase of outdoor play equipment such as giant chess, giving students new ways to learn and play together.

At Co-op Academy Beckfield, Headteacher Caroline Watkiss said the donation will make a real difference to how children enjoy their break and lunchtimes. She said pupils are excited to start using the new equipment and to learn new skills through play.

Liz Garrity, Head of Community at Co-op Academies Trust, said the support has been invaluable across the Trust and has helped build a strong relationship with WPA. She added that welcoming WPA staff into academies to present equipment and see the impact firsthand has been a powerful part of the partnership.

Co-op Academies Trust is grateful to the WPA Foundation for its continued support, which is helping more children and young people enjoy being active, build confidence and develop the skills they need for life.