Who we are We’re a charity that helps young people who need all kinds of emotional, practical, and physical support - but don’t get it.
What we do We put our hearts and souls into helping any challenged young person stop feeling judged, crushed, or underestimated and start feeling self-assured, hopeful, and happy.
How we do it We re-ignite confidence and self-worth in young people and give them the life skills and opportunities to not only survive but to thrive in the world.
Where we do it Every year we change the lives of thousands of young people by being active in their communities, schools or at our home at the Rec.
An update from Lynne Fernquest, Chief Executive of Bath Rugby Foundation
Every year Bath Rugby Foundation works with around 4,000 children and young people – building the confidence and lifeskills which enable them to thrive as adults.
We have been doing this in the heart of our community for 18 years.
Summer can be a tough time for many of the children we work with. When schools break up for the holidays, you’d expect most children to feel relief; a care-free time ahead, but for over 4,000 children in our community, the loss of their school day also means the loss of their school meal.
Families already battling daily with low budgets face the added pressure of paying for additional holiday childcare and the heart-breaking reality that there isn’t enough money to pay for the additional food.
Working across B&NES at multiple hubs, Bath Rugby Foundation and partners this summer delivered a fun and powerful package of activities, and nutritious food, aimed at those struggling the most. There we close to 1,000 attendances and we will be back again at Christmas doing the same.
It is proven that if a child experiences hunger for a prolonged period during the school holidays that the inequality already in existence between children from wealthier and poorer backgrounds grows even wider.
To make this story even harder to hear, those young people most at risk of holiday hunger are more likely to suffer from social isolation and loneliness. The devastating impact of the pandemic on the mental and physical health of families on low incomes, disengaged teenagers and young adults is now starting to become clear.
Our uncomfortable truth is that we live in one of the most unequal cities in the UK. We are not immune to the child hunger crisis that our country is facing but we believe by working together and creating opportunities for all of our children and young people, we can make our city somewhere where everyone is equipped with the tools to and succeed.
Because we know developing all young people creates stronger communities, and stronger communities are better for everyone.
Bath Rugby Foundation cannot do any of this amazing work without your support. If you would like to find out more about our charity and how you can help then please email me at lynne.fernquest@bathrugbyfoundation.com