Background

 

Overton Rugby Club runs the Sparkling Rugby programme that had previously been delivered by Hampshire Constabulary when our club chairman, Roger Filbey, was the Police School Liaison Officer.  We’ve now taken up the programme by continuing the coaching of Tag Rugby in local schools to the benefit of the wider community and to promote the sport we love as part of the Club’s social responsibilities.

What is Sparkling Rugby?

It is an Overton Rugby Club Community initiative, supported and sponsored by Basingstoke Division of Hampshire Constabulary and the Basingstoke School Sports Partnership.  It delivers Tag rugby coaching to primary school children aged between 8 & 11 (with special needs children aged between 7 & 18).  It provides a platform for the delivery of a safety message called “Tackle Safe” which is a child safety message offering practical advice to reduce the risk of these kids becoming victims of crime.  The Sparkling Rugby tournament winners go on to participate in the Child Victims of Crime Charity sponsored Tag Rugby tournament run in association with the RFU.

What Do We Do?

ORFC administers and delivers coaching to primary schools as part of its community development responsibilities.  This is offered to able bodied and special needs children alike. Additionally, we have worked with and engaged the voluntary services of the Police, Police Community Support Officers and Council Wardens some of who are now able to work alongside Roger with the delivery of TAG Rugby coaching (we’ve helped them to obtain the requisite RFU coaching qualification where required) and they also deliver the “Tackle Safe” message.

Our annual TAG competition held on 5^th & 6^th June 2008 saw 32 schools and around 590 children visit us to compete against each other in the Year 3/4 & Year 5/6 age groups. The Basingstoke & Deane School Sports Partnership is funded by central government with a brief to encourage schools to get children active through sport participation beyond the standard curriculum in order to help improve the nation’s health.  There is a significant overlap between the sports partnership and the Sparkling Rugby initiatives both in terms of encouraging school children to participate in sport but also in our mutual aspirations for improving each child’s health, self-confidence and social skills.  These, we believe, come with playing Rugby.  We are aiming to become their recognised provider of Tag Rugby for Primary school children and are working to secure long term funding from the partnership.

How Many Schools and Children Benefit?

This year we have run sessions in 32 out of 46 primary schools within the Basingstoke and Deane Borough catchment area with an additional 8 schemes run by Police Community Support Officers. This has benefitted some 1478 children, most within normal school time.  4 schools are classified as special needs and we have engaged with over 140 children in these 4 schools.

 I’m sure you’ll all agree that this is a really worthwhile project that has huge benefits to the children participating and join me in thanking and congratulating Roger on a job well done.  

The Schools that participated were:

    

•  Ashford Hill   
• Burghclere
• Burnham Copse
• Chalkridge
• Cliddesden
• Ecchinswell
• Hatch Warren
• Hurstbourne Tarrant
• Ickneild
• Kempshott
• Kings Furlong
• Kingsclere
• Longparish
• Lymington House
• Maple Ridge
• Merton
• North Waltham
• Oakley
• Overton
• Park View
• Preston Candover
• Priory
• South View
• St Annes
• St Marks
• St Martins
• St Marybourne
• St Mary’s (Old Basing)
• Saxon Wood
• Whitchurch
• Winklebury
• Woolton Hill

How Can You Help Us Deliver the Programme?

Delivering this programme costs money and we are currently looking for funding to help us continue the work we do in schools with additional coaching sessions and enhancing relationships between the children and their communities.

Becoming a sponsor for Sparkling Rugby is an excellent way for businesses to give something back to the community and demonstrate that it takes Corporate Social Responsibility seriously.  We would welcome the opportunity to discuss a package of benefits that we could tailor to any potential sponsors’ requirements. This doesn’t have to cost the earth as we can also look to match your contribution with Government funding pound for pound!

If you would like to discuss Corporate Social Responsibility and Sparkling Rugby in more detail please contact Paul Cavanagh on mobile 07918 652233 or email: paulcavanagh2001@yahoo.co.uk

Press Releases:

http://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/sport/rugby/display.var.2331171.0.sparkling_day_for_schools.php

http://archive.dailyecho.co.uk/2001/5/17/75365.html

http://archive.thisishampshire.net/2002/5/23/64458.html

http://www.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/search/display.var.2328746.0.tags_sparkling_rugby.php