RFU joins Family Fund to help more people get active
The Rugby Football Union has been awarded a grant to become the 34th project within the Families Fund portfolio and the only National Governing Body working in the fund.
Launched in 2017, the £40 million fund is aimed at getting families in lower socio economic communities exercising together.
The RFU will launch 12 national projects delivering opportunities to the doorsteps of up to 1,000 families living in lower socio economic communities with the £435,000 it has been awarded. This will help families be active together and remove many of the barriers associated with traditional sport.
With nearly 2,000 clubs across England providing a hub for many communities, the RFU and its member clubs will build on the good work already being undertaken in the game to connect further with this under represented group.
"It is vital that sport organisations come together to help inspire the next generation to get out there and enjoy all the benefits that sport brings. One of the best ways of doing that is to get children and parents active at the same time," said Sports Minister Nigel Adams.
"This RFU and Sport England partnership, funded by the National Lottery, will give families of all ages the chance to take part together in their own communities.”
Almost four out of five of the seven million children in England aged 5 to 15 are not doing the recommended daily amount of exercise of at least 60 minutes of activity every day.
The £40 million Families Fund portfolio aims to change that and there are now 34 projects across the nation receiving National Lottery Funding to increase physical activity levels in low income families.
“Rugby clubs are wonderfully diverse places, and many reflect their local communities very well," said Steve Grainger, RFU Development Director.
"As a sport that is 148 years old and built on strong values, we want to ensure that as many people as possible can see the ‘rugby family’ as an extension of their own family unit.
“There is sometimes a perception that the doors of a rugby club aren’t open, which simply isn’t true.
"This project will enable us to support our clubs to do more great work with their local families, help the local club to be seen as a somewhere for children, parents, grandparents, cousins and extended family to spend time and enable communities to be more active, healthier and happier.”
