2016 has been another ground breaking year for Leeds Rhinos’ official charity with community clubs and school’s delivery reaching record breaking numbers.
Through the charity’s Rugby League Development Plan sponsored by Mears, Leeds Foundation staff have engaged directly with both schools and clubs across the city, working regularly with over 100 primary and secondary schools to deliver sport, dance and multi-skills sessions along with supporting the growth and development of 36 clubs through the Club Ambassador Scheme.
With a record number of clubs now part of the scheme, the Foundation has been able to reach more players across the city through a new structure that has seen development officers work with clubs in the four corners of the city on their development needs, including valuable work in schools to assist in the recruitment of new players through the Sky Try programme.
Long running programmes and events such as the Coach Education programme, Rhinos Challenge and the Dick Gibson Ambassador Festival were added to in 2016 with a new pitch side Respect campaign for community clubs, an under 13s development programme headed up by Francis Cummins and the Score to Explore programme, providing an end of season getaway for over 40 young players.
In schools, over 2,000 high school pupils and 5,760 children in Primary schools received multi-sport and Rugby League delivery throughout the year, with city-wide tournaments organised by the charity alongside ongoing coaching support.
Director of Operations for the Foundation Bob Bowman commented: “We have seen unprecedented success in terms of our reach with schools and clubs this year with our staff providing new and innovative ways to promote a maintain city wide interest in Rugby League”