During a time of such uncertainty, Coventry Rugby club are a vital support to local schools with pupils of varying accessibilities. Supporting with in-school activities and engagement, over 580 local children a week are benefiting from the community outreach Coventry Rugby club provide. This outreach work is only made possible through financial support from Coventry Rugby Foundation and Charter Savings Bank.
The outreach team support 12 local schools, including 3 special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) schools. These school visits range from weekly to daily, totalling 63 hours of community support each week with some of this support provided for over 8 years.
The community outreach work encompasses a range of support that is delivered by their full-time coaches which include: teaching and assisting with various lessons including swimming, the running of lunchtime and after school clubs, and leading a mixture of PE and sensory lessons.
Samuel McNulty, Community Development Officer at Coventry Rugby said, “The Community Outreach work is just one of many initiatives we run in the local community. We’ve been supporting Sherbourne for over 8 years and began providing activities at Woodlands and Oakwood in recent years. Our dedicated team of coaches work closely with the schools and their pupils to provide additional lessons and clubs. As regular 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 8 years and during this time, our involvement with the club 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 as such 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, much more. Do you have or know a local business that could help? They’re always delighted to welcome new support to help continue and grow the support in the local communities.