As part of the Sport NI Project Re-Boot: Activate programme, Ballyclare, Ballymoney, Bangor and Queen's University RFC have recently completed successful fundraising campaigns to deliver a series of new rugby, health, and well-being activities for their communities.
Each club has created and promoted their own fundraising campaign on Crowdfunder UK to deliver a project designed to help people bounce back from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic through sport.
Alignment of their projects to the Project Re-boot: Activate programme criteria saw them secure pledges from Sport NI of between £2,500 and £5,000 to go alongside the money they’d already raised on their own.
Ballyclare RFC – “Community Hub & Academy”
Ballyclare’s campaign has focused on the development of an Outdoor Community Hub, expansion of their U21 academy, growth of their Youth and Mini provision, and delivery of a series of new community events. A huge focus for the club is on ensuring The Cloughan remains an accessible and inclusive space for the whole community.
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/ballyclare-rfc-community-hub
Ballymoney RFC – “Development of Rugby Post Cov-19”
Ballymoney’s project is centred upon broadening their engagement with a range of target groups to ensure the sport remains accessible to everyone. Among other things, they plan on delivering a range of ‘Give It A Try’ events, cross-community initiatives and schools sessions, and other activities to further grow their women and girls provision. They also secured an additional pledge from the National Emergencies Trust Local Action Fund worth £10,000, taking their fundraising total to £29,530
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/development-of-youth-ladies-rugby-post-cov-19
Bangor RFC - Mini & Youth - Coming Back Stronger
Bangor RFC have raised over £10,000 to support activities which will expand and enhance their underage provision, with the club already boasting over 270 players, both boys and girls, aged 4-18. Emphasis has been placed on promoting and nurturing the value which sport has on mental and physical health, as well as all the benefits of being part of a team.
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/bangorrfc
Queens – Rugby Revival
‘Rugby Revival’ is QUBRFC’s 7-month programme designed to offer coaching for school leavers who have had few opportunities to participate in rugby over the past 18 months. They’ll be using their funds to cover coaching costs, facility hire, equipment purchase and training up student volunteers as coaches themselves. They too have been able to secure some additional funding from the National Emergencies Trust to support the programme.
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/rugbyrevial-qub
Projects within the Project Re-Boot: Activate programme must be completed by June 2022, but if your club would be interested in running a campaign and you’d like to find out more, Sport NI will be hosting their next webinar on Wednesday 19th January. Details on how to register are available via the link below.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/crowdfund-sport-northern-ireland-live-learn-project-re-boot-activate-tickets-166680954221
You can also find out more information on Project Re-boot: Activate on the Sport NI website.
http://www.sportni.net/funding/supporting-sport-to-build-back-better/project-re-boot-activate/