As 2024 draws to a close, we are taking a look back on some of the highlights from across the Foundation.
Here are just a few of the ways in which the Foundation have used the power of sport to change lives over the past 12 months.
January
The year kicked off to a positive start at the Leeds Rhinos Foundation, as we joined forces with Leeds Rhinos Netball to deliver our Offload programme, consisting of 6 hourly sessions on mental fitness, positive mindsets, resilience and mindfulness.
Leeds Community Foundation, the funders of this initiative, have a history of supporting our programmes. Collaborating with Rugby League Cares and their clinical support, along with experienced facilitators, enhances the overall effectiveness of the programme.
The free 6-week mental fitness and wellbeing programme is also available to members of the community, giving them the chance to take part in engaging sessions which tackle issues such as depression and anxiety.
Interested in getting involved in our next cohort? Contact sam.horner@leedsrhinosfoundation.org
February
Ahead of the start of this year’s junior community Rugby League season, the Foundation launched a new film to support the RFL’s ‘Respect’ campaign to encourage positive touchline behaviour.
Responding to increasing concerns from community clubs about negative and abusive conduct which has targeted players and referees, we, with the help of RAM Films, produced a short film to highlight the messages of the Respect Campaign, featuring a scene showing some of the comments reported to have been targeted at referees and young players and the impact they have.
This was followed up by weekly messages from Leeds Rhinos first team players, to remind clubs to encourage this behaviour.
Watch the full video below.
March
March was a month of celebrations, starting off with an Inclusive Sports Day, hosted in partnership with Paralympics GB to mark the Foundation winning the Every Body Moves Club of the Year award. The day was a huge success, with the whole Rhinos family coming together to celebrate the accolade.
The Leeds Rhinos Foundation were honoured to receive the award in February of 2023, for our dedication to ensuring everyone has the opportunity to play Rugby League and engage in physical activity, no matter their ability or impairment.
The month of march also marked a significant milestone for our Rhinestones Dance Academy, who celebrated 15 incredible years of success, inspiring self-confidence, discipline, and camaraderie amongst their dancers.
April
April saw the launch of a new health initiative in partnership with national palliative and bereavement charity, Sue Ryder, providing a Grief Kind Space at AMT Headingley Stadium for those struggling to navigate their loss.
Leeds Rhinos legend, Jamie Peacock, got right behind this initiative as an Ambassador for Sue Ryder’s Leeds-based hospice, Wheatfields, which cared for his father since 2019, raising thousands of pounds for the charity.
For more information and to get involved with our Grief Kind Space, please email health@leedsrhinosfoundation.org.
As a continued response to knife crime in the city, the Foundation also got behind a new programme which saw local school students become ‘junior detectives’ for the week.
The initiative came as part of Project Shield, which was unveiled during the knife crime awareness month organised by Safer Leeds and supported by the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership, linked to the imposing Knife Angel sculpture’s visit to the city in February.
To see what we got up to, watch the video below.
May
2024 marked the 10th anniversary of our annual Rhinos Challenge event, as over 12,000 attendees joined us at Butlins for two unforgettable weekends of Rugby League and Netball action!
Watch the highlights below.
Netball
Rugby League
May also saw the second instalment of the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon, as 28 runners took on the ultimate challenge, running 26.2 miles in aid of our Foundation.
We are extremely proud to announce that places are now open to take part in next year’s marathon or half as part of our team, joining Team Captain, Lindsey Burrow, to do you part to change lives through the power of sport in our city.
For more information and to get involved, CLICK HERE.
June
On June 7th at 7pm, the Foundation hosted a 7-mile run in tribute to the late Rob Burrow CBE. Thousands came together at Roundhay Park to tackle the Rhino-shaped route, celebrating the legacy of a rugby league legend.
Check out the full album from the evening HERE.
The Foundation also announced that all funds raised from this year’s Run For All Leeds 10K by our Run with the Rhinos team, would be donated to the Rob Burrow Centre for MND fund. Over £3000 was raised by our team, consisting of an amazing 140 runners!
July
The Aspire CBS Tag Rugby Festival made a much-anticipated return to AMT Headingley Stadium in July, bringing together over 100 participants, including customers, volunteers and supporters.
The festival is run in partnership with Aspire CBS, a remarkable staff-owned, not-for-profit social enterprise with charitable status that provides essential care and support services to adults with learning disabilities.
The festival aims to promote inclusivity and physical activity among individuals with learning disabilities, offering them a platform to engage in sports, build confidence and enjoy a sense of community.
August
The Summer holidays was a busy one this year, with the running of our Multi Sport camps across the city, and the second of our Netball Residentials, run in partnership with Leeds Rhinos Netball and Woodhouse Grove.
August also brought us to a key event in the Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League calendar: Magic Weekend! The LDSL lit up Elland Road, captivating over 50,000 fans with an outstanding display of social inclusion, creating memories to last forever.
View some of our favourite pictures from the day HERE.
Finally, we saw a record number of young, aspiring players take part in our North vs South Player Development Series this year, delivering significant benefits to grassroots rugby league across Leeds.
These benefits include:
- Over 250 young players accessing development and pathway opportunities.
- 20 coaches from the community game coaching on the programme, accessing CPD and receiving support and mentoring from Leeds Rhinos Foundation staff which will in-turn benefit their community club environments and help with player development and retention.
September
The 2023/24 season came to an end for our PDRL side, who competed in the annual Finals Day Festival at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle in Castleford.
This year we saw a 11.76% increase in participants playing PDRL at the Leeds Rhinos Foundation, with our Junior PDRL side beginning to engage in national activation at PDRL festivals. 2024 has also seen an increase in Leeds Rhinos Foundation having classified players under the International Rugby League criteria, including our first under 16 players. This classification enables players to represent their country internationally at PDRL.
PDRL coach, Dan Roberts, reflected on 2024 season:
October
The 2024 season ended on a high note for our Leeds Rhinos Wheelchair team, who capped off an undefeated campaign with a Grand Final victory over local rivals, Halifax Panthers. After trailing by 12 points late in the first half, the Rhinos mounted a strong comeback, securing a 52-32 win.
In early October, an exciting new partnership was formed as we officially teamed up with Leeds Well Schools. This collaboration is a major step forward in promoting physical activity, sports and education across Leeds.
To learn more about the partnership, CLICK HERE.
Towards the back end of the month, more than 150 people took to the stands of ATM Headingley Stadium to brave the cold in aid of three Leeds based charities for this year’s Leeds Big Sleep. Hosted in partnership with St Gemma’s Hospice and St George’s Crypt, the event saw the community vowing to give up a night of comfort to raise funds and awareness for some of the city’s most vulnerable, raising over £20K as a result!
Watch the highlights from the night below.
To round off a very busy month, we were honoured to be named the Super League Foundation of the Year at the annual awards dinner. This was an amazing recognition for the work we do in our community to change lives through the power of sport!
November
On the 19th November, we proudly hosted our inaugural One Team Team Rhinos event at AMT Headingley Stadium. The breakfast gathering was an opportunity to showcase the incredible work that our club and foundation do, as well as the positive impact we’re making in the local community! We were thrilled to welcome businesses, current players, sponsors and city leaders to collaborate and explore how we can change lives together through the power of sport.
December
To mark the festive period, players from the Leeds Rhinos men’s, women’s, and netball teams continued their Christmas tradition by visiting Leeds Children’s Hospital to bring joy and gifts to young patients.
This year, the visit was made even more special thanks to a generous donation from Amazon, who have supplied a variety of items, including portable DVD players, toys, baby products and other essentials, to brighten the holiday season for the children and their families.
Another very proud moment for the Foundation came in early December, as our longstanding Rugby League Development Officer, Sam Horner, was inducted into the RFL Roll of honour.
The Roll of Honour celebrates individuals whose commitment and achievements have left a lasting mark on Rugby League, spanning roles as players, coaches, broadcasters, journalists and volunteers.
Commenting on an amazing year, CEO of the Foundation, Bob Bowman QPM, said: “2024 has quite simply been the best year ever in the 19 year history of the Foundation! Across all our themes of work we have delivered an excellent service and that is down to the brilliant collective efforts of our staff, trustees and volunteers and of course the huge support we get from all connected with the Leeds Rhinos.
“How can we raise the bar? Quite simply…in 2025 we celebrate our 20 year anniversary and what better way to mark that milestone than to out perform this year. Watch out for new initiatives, new partnerships and a spectacular anniversary ball in late summer! Thank you once again to everyone who helps us deliver on our purpose to change lives through the power of sport, together we are making a huge, positive difference”.
We are extremely proud of everything the Foundation and all of those associated with the Charity have achieved in 2024.
Whilst this is only a handful of those achievements, we cannot wait to continue providing unique opportunities to truly change lives through the power of sport in 2025, as the Foundation celebrates it’s 20th anniversary!