The Purple Partnership

What is The Purple Partnership?

It’s a partnership of sports providers and businesses, led by Canterbury City Council and Kent Police, that will:

• provide life skills to young people;
• introduce young people to sports they may not have had the opportunity to try;
• introduce young people to professional work environments; and
• deliver events and activities that are friendly and accessible to all young people

We will do this initially by working with young people who:

• do not have the same opportunities other young people may have, whether that is due to economic or social reasons, and includes young people from resettled communities.
• have come into contact with the police and may be subject to a criminal investigation and deemed suitable for a diversionary activity, such as those who commit low-level offences and anti-social behaviour and could benefit from diversionary activities or positive role models.

We want to give young people opportunities they may not have otherwise had, whether that be trying a sport, getting training to help their future or unlocking work opportunities.

The aim behind this is not just to get them into sport regularly but to also access what sport can do for them, whether it’s improving physical and mental health or giving them the building blocks for what they need in a place of work such as teamwork, communication and leadership.

Our partners

Our current partnership includes Kent Cricket, Canterbury Rugby Football Club, Canterbury Christ Church Student Union, Kent Police, Distinctive Bars and the Community Alcohol Partnership.

Events

Give it a go!

A free event for the whole family (ages four to 18) encouraging active lifestyles and greater well-being through sport.

Try your hand at rugby, football, judo, taekwondo, boxing, wrestling, cricket, wheelchair rugby, combat archery and more.

There will be organisations from the Blue Light services, food and drink options, as well as health and wellbeing and community safety stalls to take any of your questions.

A free bus service will run every 30 minutes from 9.30am from Canterbury Bus Station to the rugby club and the last bus leaving the rugby club will be 4.30pm.

Open to everyone.

Taking place on Saturday 12 July between 10am and 4pm at Canterbury Rugby Club, CT4 7DZ.

Read our list of Frequently Asked Questions about the event.

Published: 15 April 2025