Page 32 - RFU Annual Report 2018

3 CORPORATE
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

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Community relations Try for Change All Try for Change projects
The RFU is proud of its long heritage in The RFU’s charity and CSR Programme are supported throughout the
Twickenham, and of partnerships with has been focused around Try for implementation and delivery of their
many local organisations in Richmond Change, which works to use rugby programmes and so far have had over
and Hounslow boroughs. and its values to improve the lives 4,000 beneficiaries across four main
of disadvantaged and marginalised social outcomes: increased community
Twickenham Stadium contributes people in England and across the cohesion, increased employability,
around £3m annually in local business world. England Rugby works in improving mental and physical health,
rates to Richmond Council and partnership with Comic Relief to deliver and reduction in gangs and re-offending.
generates £96m economic activity in grants through Try for Change to
the borough yearly, equating to around ensure that the money raised through RFU Giving
£1,200 per household towards local rugby fans and the rugby family is The RFU supports a number of other
services (EY 2015 report). Around 2,500 invested in sustainable and impactful charities and initiatives primarily
to 3,000 match day jobs are created, projects supporting individuals and through the donation of international
which sees the RFU working closely communities that need it most. As part match tickets, signed items and gifts for
with partners to recruit locally. of this partnership, England Rugby fundraising appeals. The RFU receives
was a primary partner of the 2018 Sport hundreds of worthy applications and is
Collaborating with local organisations, Relief Campaign which saw the Union’s delighted to have been able to support
the RFU supports their work in the Patron, players and the whole rugby over 65 charities over a 12 month period
area. These partnerships include community getting behind ambitions through RFU Giving.
community centres, such as the Whitton to raise as much money as possible
Community Centre, Whitton Youth to invest in rugby for social change The RFU Injured Players
Zone and Bridgelink; local schools and projects. Foundation (IPF)
support for the Borough Sports, work The IPF supports catastrophically
experience and specialist workshops. In January 2018 Try for Change made injured players, their families, friends
There is also support for the emergency six grants of up to £100,000 each to and clubs immediately after injury and
services, including the police cadets and support charities, community groups for the rest of their lives.
fire brigade, and numerous music and and grassroots rugby clubs in England
drama groups, who receive free rooms at improving lives through rugby. The Support for the IPF clients’ welfare and
the stadium as part of the Community projects joined the Try for Change wellbeing includes everything from
Space Programme. portfolio alongside 11 that received a rehabilitation and financial support
small grant in the first round of funding. to specialist equipment and housing
Highlights from the past year include The projects awarded a large grant adaptations. The Engage Programme
supporting the provision of an outdoor included: International Mixed Ability then aims to encourage clients to
classroom, rebuilding a play house Sports introducing mixed ability rugby get socially and physically engaged
at Marble Hill, gardening projects to 20 rugby clubs in Yorkshire and the in activities which build confidence
in Murray Park and at the Youth Midlands; Manchester Metropolitan and remove barriers to achieving
Zone, amateur dramatics at Ormond University’s Kicking Crime into their aspirations. Working with other
Opera, school proms, stadium tours Touch engaging young people in the charity partners, the IPF uses activities
for community groups, IT equipment criminal justice system from Trafford, from sailing on tall ships to shooting
for community learning, alley gates to Salford and Manchester in the criminal or skiing courses. The charity also
improve resident security and financial justice system; The National Literacy uses its Pathways Programme to
support for local fairs, festivals and Trust – Rugby Reading Champions help clients assess and determine
Christmas lights. literacy programme delivered by their vocational objectives, whether
rugby coaches for children aged 9-13; working towards entering or returning
Efforts are also being made to ensure Sharks Community Trust – Team Talk to work or education, and includes
that the economic benefit of the stadium using rugby to tackle loneliness, social specialist coaching and advice, through
is fully exploited by local businesses, isolation and dementia among people to practical support with university
with proactive collaboration with shops aged 60 plus; Stonewall working with degrees, training or apprenticeships.
and businesses, and work with local coaches, players and fans to create
councils and tourism authorities to LGBT-inclusive environments at
encourage longer visits to the area. This England’s grassroots clubs; and Street
began with help to fund the new Eel Pie League increasing opportunities
Museum in Twickenham, tying in with for unemployed young people from
hosting the Rolling Stones, a band with disadvantaged communities in
close connections to the area. London to progress into sustainable
employment, education and training.

Annual
Report
2018