Springboard Heroes 2026

DOSportUK

DOSportUK is an organisation championing inclusive sport and making a real difference to the lives of people with disabilities across Salford and beyond.

Since launching as a community interest company in 2017, DOSportUK has created inclusive opportunities for people of all ages to take part in a range of sporting activities to improve their health, build confidence and develop meaningful friendships. Today, the organisation delivers ten community sessions each week across the region, including Salford.

Salix Homes has previously awarded DOSportUK funding to support the Salford Knights inclusive basketball team sessions at Eccles College. The funding helped provide new equipment and support weekly sessions for 12 months, giving participants opportunities to improve their fitness, develop teamwork and gain coaching skills in a safe, welcoming environment.

Managing Director of DOSportUK, Jacob Meaton says: “DOSportUK makes sport accessible for people with a disability both in terms of our approach to the sessions, but also the way we cost the sessions. We know that our members face many health and social inequalities around their disability, and we want to be able to break those down in sport.

“We also work tirelessly to make sure that people who want to come to our sessions do not face any further barriers around affordability. We work hard in the background to find funding grants, sponsors, and keep the costs low. If we were to win, this would go a long way to helping us achieve those goals.”

The impact goes far beyond sport. The sessions help tackle social isolation, strengthen relationships and create a genuine sense of community and belonging. Families have seen first-hand how taking part has improved participants’ social skills, wellbeing and confidence.

Salix Homes has also joined DOSportUK’s All-Star team as a proud sponsor, contributing a further £250 towards running costs for the 2025–26 season through our Springboard Community Fund.

To find out more about DOSportUK, visit Disability Opportunities in Sport UK.

A Little Extra

The next Springboard Heroes finalist is A Little Extra – Salford’s only support group dedicated to families raising children with Down Syndrome.

The group provides a welcoming and inclusive space for families to meet, share experiences and support one another, helping them navigate the challenges of raising a child with Down Syndrome.

Meeting every Saturday morning at the Broughton Hub, A Little Extra offers arts and crafts, play activities and opportunities for children to socialise and make friends. For parents and carers, it also provides a valuable support network where they can share advice, discuss challenges and connect with others who understand their experiences.

Group founder, Lauren Stone said: “If we won the award and received the £1,000, it would mean we could provide funded days out for our families throughout the year, giving them respite days and something to look forward to.

“Winning this award would mean more connection and community for our families out in the real world where our kids belong. For us, a day out isn’t just a trip – it’s a chance to build lifelong friendships with peers who truly understand. This prize means more laughter, less isolation, and a stronger community for everyone touched by Down Syndrome.”

A Little Extra is the only support group of its kind in Salford and relies on fundraising and self-funding to cover its running costs. Previous Springboard funding went towards supporting its weekly sessions and also enabled the group to organise two trips to Gulliver’s World, giving families the chance to enjoy a day out together without the added worry of the cost.

Prevent 2 Protect

A project helping protect young people in Salford from gang and knife crime is also in the running to be crowned a Springboard Hero.

Prevent 2 Protect was established in 2020 by local residents and parents concerned about gang and knife crime in their community. Since then, the charity has expanded its work across the North West.

Its GANG for LIFE project works with schools to educate children about the dangers of gang involvement, knife crime and County Lines exploitation.

Combining sports activities with educational workshops, the project helps young people understand the consequences of criminal activity and make safer choices. Sessions also feature people with lived experience of gang involvement, who share their stories to bring these important messages to life.

Daniella Nuttall, Trustee of Prevent 2 Protect, said: “Receiving this funding would enable us to build on the work of GANG for LIFE and Prevent 2 Protect and continue creating positive opportunities that support and empower young people. We would be incredibly grateful for the chance to develop our future projects and reach even more people in the community.”

Winning the additional £1,000 Springboard Heroes prize would help the charity reach even more schools across Salford, raising awareness of criminal exploitation and protecting more young people from being targeted by gangs.

Schools have praised the workshops, reporting high levels of engagement and a better understanding among pupils of the risks associated with gangs and criminality.

To find out more, visit the Prevent 2 Protect website.