Davies Sports announces new three-year partnership with England Athletics to support funetics programme

Davies Sports is delighted to announce a new three-year partnership with England Athletics, marking an exciting new chapter for funetics, their national programme designed to help children develop fundamental movement skills through fun, engaging athletics-themed activities.

As part of the agreement, Davies Sports has been appointed the exclusive distributor of all funetics equipment bags on behalf of England Athletics, making it easier for schools, clubs and community organisations across the UK to access the resources they need to deliver the programme.

As a specialist supplier of PE and sports equipment, Davies Sports has a long-standing commitment to supporting schools, clubs and leisure organisations with high-quality, education-focused products. Developed and manufactured specifically for education, Davies Sports equipment undergoes rigorous testing to ensure durability, safety and suitability. With solutions designed for all ages, heights and abilities, the company's extensive range supports participants from early years through to senior performance level.

The partnership brings together the expertise of England Athletics and the reach, operational capabilities and educational sector knowledge of Davies Sports, helping to expand access of funetics resources nationwide.

The funetics equipment bags are central to the programme and can be used as a standalone offer or incorporated into multi-sport programmes, holiday camps and festival-style events. Through the partnership, customers will benefit from a streamlined ordering process, enhanced product availability and access to a wider range of supplementary and inclusion-focused resources.

Chris Mahady, CEO of Findel, parent company of Davies Sports, said:

"We’re delighted that Davies Sports has been chosen to support England Athletics in the development of funetics. As an organisation dedicated to helping schools create more active, engaged and confident young people, funetics aligns perfectly with our mission to make physical activity accessible and enjoyable for every child.

PE teachers and school leaders are continually looking for innovative ways to engage pupils in movement and sport, and funetics provides a fantastic platform for developing fundamental athletic skills through inclusive and curriculum-friendly activities. By helping children build confidence, competence and a lifelong enjoyment of being active, the programme is already making a difference in schools.

As a trusted partner to the education sector, we are proud to contribute our expertise to the development of the equipment bag and supporting resources. Every refinement, however small, is an opportunity to make delivery easier for educators to maximise the experience for pupils. We look forward to working closely with England Athletics to help bring funetics to more schools and inspire the next generation to enjoy the benefits of athletics and physical activity.”

Tracey Francis, Head of Participation Programmes at England Athletics, said:

"We are excited to launch our new partnership with Davies Sports. Their centralised operations enable us to respond quickly and efficiently to customer demand, ensuring a seamless purchasing experience.

We have been hugely impressed by the efficiency of the product journey, from warehouse to customer doorstep, and by the extensive reach Davies Sports has across schools, clubs and communities.

Davies Sports' expertise has already helped us enhance the equipment bag, particularly through reducing its overall weight and improving the selection of items included. In addition, customers will now be able to purchase supplementary resources, inclusion-focused equipment and replacement items directly, providing greater flexibility and choice.

This partnership represents an important milestone for Davies Sports as it continues to support schools, clubs and community organisations in delivering high-quality physical activity experiences for young people. By working alongside England Athletics, Davies Sports will help extend the reach of funetics and ensure more children can develop movement skills, build confidence and enjoy being active through fun, inclusive and accessible athletics-based activities.