Why this partnership
Storm in the Community delivers player-led school visits, wellbeing and resilience workshops, inclusive sport sessions and SEND-friendly resources across the region. It also identifies children facing hardship, isolation or barriers to participation and provides funded tickets, family passes and Community Zone experiences at the AO Arena.
As Education Partner, Dataspire will sit alongside that work rather than beside it. The partnership covers school and community programmes, joint digital wellbeing and online safety content, technology and careers sessions delivered with Storm players, Community Hero Awards recognising a pupil, teacher or community volunteer, Community Zone match-night experiences, staff volunteering and hardware donations to schools facing hardship where suitable equipment is available.
600 tickets, and a seat for people who would not otherwise get one
One of the most tangible elements of the partnership is the ticketing commitment. Dataspire is funding 600 sponsored match night tickets across the partnership, delivered through 18 sponsored Community Zone seats at every Manchester Storm home game.
Those seats are not for corporate entertaining. They are allocated through Storm in the Community and its charity partners to reach children and young people, adults, older people, families, people experiencing financial hardship and people supported because of mental health or wellbeing challenges. Dataspire can suggest schools, charities and community groups, and where places are not taken up they are redistributed through charity partners so that every seat is used for community benefit.
A word from Dataspire
“We are incredibly excited to be partnering with Storm in the Community to help support their work across schools in Greater Manchester. For us this partnership was a no-brainer. We have a genuine passion for education, having delivered DfE projects and supported schools with their IT strategy and technology for many years. Being able to contribute in a way we ordinarily could not, and to make an impact on children’s wellbeing beyond the classroom, is special.”
– Rob Rawcliffe, Head of Technical Services, Dataspire
Built on shared values
Dataspire is a Manchester based technology partner working with schools of all sizes to create dependable, high-performing and secure IT environments, with the aim of giving staff total confidence in using technology to deliver outstanding learning. As an official Crown Commercial Service supplier, Dataspire works directly with the Department for Education on major education technology programmes, from new school builds and infrastructure through to cyber security and connectivity. The company is also developing IMPACT, a new tool that will help schools understand and improve their digital maturity. For Storm in the Community, the appeal is equally clear.
“Storm in the Community is proud to be partnered with Dataspire, our Education Delivery Sponsor,”
the CIC said in its announcement, describing the combination of education, technology, sport and wellbeing as one that creates positive experiences for young people.
What happens next
Work now moves into schools, with visits, assemblies, wellbeing sessions and joint technology and online safety activity being scheduled across Greater Manchester for the season ahead.
As both organisations put it on launch day: this is just the beginning.
Visit the Storm in the Community Website: https://storminthecommunity.com/
Check out the Manchester Storm: https://www.manchesterstorm.com/
Get tickets for a game! https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/manchester-storm-tickets/artist/5223012
