Rugby for All: Fylde Foundation opens the game to the whole community
The Fylde Rugby Community Foundation is breaking down barriers and transforming lives through rugby across Blackpool, Fylde, Wyre and Lancashire.
Since its launch in 2020, the foundation has made rugby more accessible throughout its community.
The foundation offers a wide range of programmes and mentorships in schools, as well as opportunities to play rugby in the community, including Rugratz rugby for 3–5-year-olds, walking rugby, and wheelchair rugby.
A keystone of the foundation’s success lies in its innovative school-based programmes. They include a Mentoring and Rugby Programme that targets students at risk of anti-social behaviour or truancy, a Rugby Reading Champions Programme established in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, which uses the sport as a tool to help spark a love of reading, and the Curriculum+ Programme, which embeds rugby as part of the school day and after-school activities in local state schools.
They also offer a Rugby Pathway Programme that last season supported 20 children with kit, transport, and full club memberships, removing financial and practical barriers to participation.
One participant, who had previously struggled with mental health, joined a local club and was named Coaches’ Player of the Year.
Over the past year alone, more than 6,500 participants have taken part in foundation activities across the Fylde Coast, 97 of whom have signed up to join rugby clubs.
Helen Williams, Junior Chair at Garstang Rugby Club, said: “The foundation has really helped to increase the presence of rugby in the Garstang area by getting into the local primary schools and the high school.
“It’s fantastic to see the difference in kids once they’ve joined rugby. You see their confidence grow and see them work as a team.”
Sir Bill Beaumont, Honorary President of Fylde Rugby Community Foundation, said: “By putting something into this foundation, there will be so many children who appreciate the game of rugby.
“You’ve got to learn how to be part of a team, you’ve got to accept defeat and victory with the same humility, and I just think the values in life are shown on the rugby field.”
Looking ahead, the foundation has set ambitious targets for the coming year, including expanding its Curriculum+ and Mentoring programmes into all 18 state secondary schools in its area and growing its strong partnerships with primary schools to be in all 101 primaries in its area.
With community at its heart and opportunity at its core, the Fylde Rugby Community Foundation is showing how the values of rugby can help shape lives, on and off the pitch.
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