The Bath Rugby Foundation and Community teams have been hard at work over the past 12 months, reaching out across the city and surrounding areas to provide much needed support in difficult times.
The pandemic has undoubtably intensified the challenges faced by both teams - and the work required to overcome those challenges – to help families facilitate healthy living.
Wellbeing has taken centre stage over the past 12 months as the world sought to grapple with the physical, mental, financial and social impact of the pandemic. In a city with one of the UK’s starkest divides between wealth and poverty, the Bath Rugby Foundation and Community teams have been at the forefront, helping to drive positive wellbeing through existing programmes and new ones specific to the current challenges.
Facilitating a combined approach to tackle the issues perpetuated by the pandemic, the Community team and Bath Rugby Foundation have worked to reach as many young people across the catchment area as possible, using a range of initiatives including Easter Breakout, camps and a new Skill Series programme.
Both teams have seen a record level of sign-ups for the respective programmes owing to the pandemic, with the need for physical and mental exercise at the forefront after many months of restrictions.
The Easter camps, run by the Community department, saw just under 1,000 children participate across 11 different sites; a 554% increase compared to 2019. The demand was such that the team introduced events at three new clubs and hosted the first girls only camp in conjunction with Bath Ladies.
To support attendees in their physical development, following prolonged periods of sedentary in lockdown, the team also included strength and conditioning expertise for the first time.
During the same period, the Bath Rugby Foundation continued its crucial BreakOut programme. Delivered over two weeks of the Easter school holidays at three locations spanning across BANES, the programme provided over 490 balanced meals (over 60% of attendees received free school dinners) as well as 200 hours of fun activities including crafts, sport, music, DJing, youth work, cooking, drug awareness and mental health workshops.
127 young people aged between 5-16 attended BreakOut; nearly a quarter of whom are classified within the highest 30% of those living in deprivation in the UK.
Supported by a consortium including charities, local businesses, the programme offered much needed support to parents across the community who need childcare in order to work.
Working with over 2,500 children each year, the Bath Rugby Foundation charity, through programmes like BreakOut, empowers vulnerable children and young people in Bath and the surrounding area to succeed.
Of course, the work doesn’t stop there, with a more initiatives set to launch to keep the community active, including the new Skills Series programme starting in May. Led by Bath Rugby Academy and Community Coaches, the two-hour sessions help develop players in specific areas of the game, encouraging physical activity and in-person coaching – adhering to strict COVID-19 safety measures.
Held across give community clubs, the Skills Series present an excellent way for children aged between 13-16 to develop new skills, challenge themselves both mentally and physically and crucially, spend time with friends new and old.
The cumulative effect of Bath Rugby Foundation and community teams, respectively, is undoubtably vast in helping to enrich the lives of young people and families across the region, with our sport and its value at the core.