The need to positively impact the local community led to the introduction of The Harrogate Rugby Club Foundation in 2022. The foundation has a single mission.

"From primary schools to retirement home, we are here to keep people physically and mentally fit throughout their life. Using rugby as a means to access areas of inequality, deprivation and hardship, we will ensure that everyone in the Harrogate community has the opportunity to benefit from the amazing game that is Rugby Union"

As its first act, the Foundation hired a Community Development Officer Aled Jones, to begin making links with the local community and start delivering FREE rugby sessions to schools in Harrogate.

We need your help to support that work!

Why is this project needed?

According to the Youth Sport Trust:

When asking 1,000 parents of grassroots footballers, aged 5-16, how their football had been impacted by the pandemic and, latterly, by the cost-of-living crisis.

10% of players have not returned to the pitch, with 31% of parents saying that they couldn’t afford the subs and 27% not being able to afford other things such as kit or equipment
Two-thirds of grassroots players (67%) are required to have more than one pair of football boots or Astroturf trainers as a result of playing on a range of surfaces, according to parents. Sadly 27% of parents admitted their inability to afford more than one pair of boots, limiting where their child can play
When asked if families can comfortably afford the weekly, monthly or annual subs required to be part of a club, 35% said they are already struggling to afford subs, or know they will be less able to afford the subs in the near future. A third of parents said they already can’t afford the cost of subs, but they make sacrifices elsewhere in their lives to enable their child to play (33%)
This is a picture mirrored in the grassroots rugby game as well.

Our project to allow free school tag rugby sessions to children aged 6-11, will help offer a place where the critical benefits mental and physical benefits gained by sport can be accessed without the need for high-cost subs and resources. Supplying club quality coaching and resources free of charge to those that need it most in the community.

How we’ll spend the money raised

Coaches

"A good coach can change a game, a great coach can change a life" - John Wooden

Without coaches, we can't do a thing. Your donation will go to funding Harrogates coaches to deliver sessions in the local schools. Ensuring that they have the means to affect as many children as possible across Harrogate.

If we are able to achieve our £10,000 target, £8,775 will be spent on delivering 1 hour of tag rugby per week to 15 schools. For a whole year! Meaning that upwards of 225 children will have access to free rugby activities on a weekly basis.

If you would like to donate, please enquire with Aled at aled.jones@harrogaterugby.com