Community

27 Feb 2023 | 3 min |

Coventry Rugby Club getting children active

Coventry Rugby Club are supporting local pupils with in-school activities and engagement, benefitting 580 children a week.

The community outreach work is made possible through financial support from Coventry Rugby Foundation and Charter Savings Bank. The outreach team support 12 local schools, including three special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) schools. School visits total 63 hours of community support each week.

A range of support that is delivered by full-time coaches which includes: teaching and assisting with various lessons including swimming, running lunchtime and after school clubs, and leading a mixture of PE and sensory lessons.

Samuel McNulty, Community Development Officer at Coventry Rugby said: “Our dedicated team of coaches work closely with the schools and their pupils to provide additional lessons and clubs. As familiar faces at these schools, they have built up a great rapport with the local children, encouraging them to get involved and enjoy being active. As with all of our initiatives supporting the local community, we wouldn’t be able to provide this without the ongoing support of Charter Savings Bank and those who are involved in The Coventry Rugby Foundation”.

Shivaun Duffy Moriarty, Head Teacher at Sherbourne Fields School said: “Our community partnership with Coventry Rugby Club now spans eight years and has added real value to our curriculum and to our school. The children who attend Sherbourne Fields all have barriers to accessing everyday life due to physical disabilities, communication difficulties or complex health problems.

"Our rugby coaches always highlight the importance of physical exercise and are positive role models in our school. Their involvement with our pupils has had a lasting positive influence. Their ability to coordinate activities that are accessible and enjoyable to all using teamwork, respect and values at the core of their coaching has really enhanced and improved our pupils’ communication skills, self-esteem and confidence. The dedication and commitment shown by the community coaches to our pupils is simply unwavering.”

Coventry Rugby Foundation helps the club to deliver hands-on coaching programmes, educational offerings including sessions focused on literacy, sessions on health, nutrition and psychology, girls’ rugby clubs and much more. They are always delighted to welcome new support to help continue and grow the support in the local communities.