Newton Abbott RFC #OneCommunity project Will Smith of Complete Estate & Letting Agents donated £1000 to the Newton Abbott RFC's Community Project - End Child Food Poverty. Before the Christmas period, Newton Abbot Rugby Club provided 75+ Christmas hampers to families who meet the correct criteria. Newton Abbot Rugby Club is close to Will's heart and in his own words, he says, "The Club (NARFC) saved me and gave me the confidence and a lot of the skills I have today, which has enabled me to get to where I am. When I have been in a dark place the club and the true friends I have made there have helped me to a better place." He continued, "If Complete and myself can help some families it would give us great pleasure; the current climate is making it harder for some less fortunate families and If I'm lucky enough to be in a position to help I will where I can. Will has been a huge part of Newton Abbot Rugby Club for many years and they are hugely grateful for his generosity. Following the launch of this local initiative, the Club received a personal "thank you" from Marcus Rashford, who has been leading the campaign to Feed Britain's Children. His letter stated: "I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for the incredible role you have played in protecting the most vulnerable children within your local community in recent months. The empathy and compassion you have shown has shone a really positive light on 2020 and has demonstrated the true power of togetherness. I understand 2020 has been a difficult year for business and the fact you were willing to run at an even greater loss to protect our children when the Government rejected holiday provision left me overwhelmed with pride, and truly thankful."
Chinnor Kites get active for charity The Kites have proved to be a real inspiration this month, with plenty of positive messages, thousands of km in their legs and hundreds of pounds going to charity. Chinnor RFC Thame’s women’s team has been
raising money for mental health sports charity, Sport in Mind, by taking part in RED January. The aim is to get active every day, with RED January a movement aimed at helping people support their mental wellbeing through exercise. The Kites have been doing just that, all within the government guidelines of course. They have logged more than 2,000km to help them sit near the top of the Chinnor Challenge leaderboard, as well as raising more than £580 for Sport in Mind. Head Coach, Fran Ronan is keen to raise awareness of the benefits that exercise can have on our mental health. She said: “RED January is just about encouraging people to take part in everyday physical activity, whether it’s yoga, walking, running, cycling, anything that they are doing, even riding a scooter. “It’s set up alongside Sport In Mind which is a charity running alongside the NHS and they deliver physical activity programmes for those struggling with mental health. “It’s been about raising awareness and to encourage people to get up and active, and actually to do something that’s really going to benefit their mental health as well as helping other people too.”
Stourbridge Rugby deliver food parcels to local school Working with Ridgewood High School, the club’s Community Department - which is run and operated by Community Group - delivered free school meals to 70 households. Head of Community, Chad Thorne, Stourbridge Rugby’s Head of Marketing, Louise Price and volunteers Michelle Wood and Joe Wood dropped off the food parcels to ensure children who are learning from home receive the adequate nutrition they require. Stourbridge Rugby’s Head of Community, Chad Thorne said: “We want to support the community during this challenging time and we have offered our help to schools in the local area. As a club, there’s always different ways we can help the community and we hope the families benefitted from the food parcels which were delivered.”
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