Rosslyn Park Women urge rugby family to help NHS
Samantha Emery is now club captain of the Rosslyn Park Slingbacks women’s rugby team, having started playing for the U16s at Lichfield.
After more than 20 years loving rugby, she was putting together a package of tasty snacks for her local hospital NHS staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blackheath, when she realised: “Lots of front line workers belong to local rugby clubs and someone always knows someone in the rugby community. So we are well placed to help as a sport.”
Why not, she thought, get the rugby community to donate care packages to NHS workers as they face such a challenging time?
“I saw posts online saying how appreciative ward staff are of snacks and treats turning up when they are struggling to find time to eat. I thought we could try and give back to raise their spirits.”
The Rosslyn Park Slingbacks’ initiative gained traction throughout the club as well as wider support. England’s Marlie Packer and Owen Farrell reposted their efforts and other clubs got in touch. There were also shout outs on TalkSPORT, BBC London and major rugby podcasts.
“Helping the NHS is the primary goal, but we have all been missing rugby so much, that it’s also a fantastic way to help rekindle the rugby family spirit,” said Samantha. “The hashtag #rugby4nhs can be used when sharing posts of donations and tagging the sending team and where it went.
“The hashtag and launch post is live on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and gives guidance on how to approach helping. It’s for teams to decide which hospital and area to support and while Covid wards, ITU and A&E are heavily hit by the pandemic, other wards are struggling, and staff like porters can get overlooked. Individuals may also have personal reasons for where to help or club members or their family members may be working for the NHS.”
A month into the campaign and clubs had joined the #Rugby4NHS squad from Kent to Yorkshire. Samantha said: “Each team has made it their own, Ashford RUFC organised a covid-safe donation drop off day at the clubhouse, Prenton RUFC pulled together care packages by raising over £600 in a few days on a donation site”.
Other clubs signing up included Preston Grasshoppers girls, Stanford ladies, Barnes, Scarborough Valkyries and Thamesians, as well as touch and sevens teams like London CSSC and Barnes Bears. Where teams are already supporting the NHS support, Sam says using #Rugby4NHS will help to showcase the work of the rugby community as a whole.
"Dozens of hospitals and their staff are being supported and the reception has been fantastic. Hospitals and their staff have directly responded and online groups like wecare4nhs have shared the work," said Samantha. “It’s been hugely rewarding to see that we are making a tangible difference - it really shows the power acts of kindness have, for those giving as well as those receiving.”
“Of course, it’s essential to follow all Government guidelines and to check in advance what help your hospital would welcome and how to deliver it. While some accept direct delivery, others are coordinating via councils and we’ve even found one hospital with an Amazon wishlist set up.”
Recognising that some people may find it easier to donate, they’ve set up a donation page. For every £100 raised, they’ll work across the rugby family to get a care package to another region. #Rugby4NHS is encouraging Game Day Giving during the Six Nations, for teams to post that they are joining the campaign or to donate.
