Rugby Increased Participation & Accessibility Project

Background:

 

The Falcons Community Foundation was established in 2005 and is responsible for the delivery of the Newcastle Falcons community objectives. Falcons Community Foundation Our aim is to motivate, educate and inspire via the power of sport. We work across 5 pillars of activity: Club Development, Grassroots Sports, Health, Social Inclusion and Education over a wide range of programmes.

Since 2004, the Thunder Community Programme has been in existence to support the growth and development of Rugby League in the North East. Working alongside the RFL, Sport England and Sky, we have been able to grow the numbers participating in the sport over the last two years.

In January 2017, the Falcons Community Foundation and Thunder Community Programme will be united as the Newcastle Rugby Foundation to jointly co-ordinate and grow both games to increase participation across the North East and Cumbria.

 

What Newcastle Rugby Foundation Do:

 

• Deliver activity to over 15,000 people each year.

• Newcastle Falcons players make over 500 appearances and donate over 1500 hours to community activity including school, club and  charity visits each season.

• Our award winning HITZ programme tackles some of the greatest challenges facing young people today - unemployment, crime and disillusionment. HITZ gives those with no hope new hope.

• Over 200 teams, totalling 3000 participants take part in our match day festivals each season. 

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Newcastle Rugby Foundation was shortlisted in the Heart of the Community Award at the North East Business Awards and highly commended at the All Parliamentary Premiership Rugby Community Awards

 

Proposal:

 

The newly created Newcastle Rugby Foundation will expand the Deaf Rugby Programme by working in schools to raise awareness of how to offer an inclusive sporting environment for deaf children and children with hearing impairments.

 

Programme outcomes:

 

• Training and development for coaches in how to offer a more inclusive rugby environment for deaf and hearing impaired children.

• Increased confidence and expertise of coaches through peer mentoring.

• Increased numbers of deaf and hearing impaired children playing rugby.

• Creation of a resource pack for training of staff and volunteers.

• Increased awareness of rugby clubs of the need to make improved provision to include deaf and hearing impaired players.

 

Cost: £5,000