Spoon Community Rugby is series of charitable projects designed to give disadvantaged children around the UK a better chance in life by playing rugby. Feedback on the respective programmes from teachers, and participating youngsters demonstrate that the teachings are being well received.
The TRY Rugby initiative was launched in September 2008 and was made possible through contributions from Wooden Spoon and Sport England through the National Sports Foundation. The programme is delivered by Premier Rugby across the 12 Premiership clubs and Bristol Rugby Club. Over 26,000 eight to ten year old children have been the chance to try rugby, many of which are playing the sport for the first time. The 260 Schools participating are in areas of greatest deprivation and the objectives are to increase activity in kids of all shapes and sizes, reduce childhood obesity levels, improve confidence and self worth, improve physical and mental health and reduce bullying.
Try Rugby Results
An online questionnaire for the schools that have participated to provide their feedback produced the following results:
| Number of children taking part: |
12,481 |
| No. of schools: |
319 |
| Have your student’s attitude towards food change for the better? |
YES 90% |
| Have your student’s attitude towards exercise change for the better? |
YES 100% |
| Have your student’s attitude towards body type/self image change for the better? |
YES 80% |
| Are the children like to exercise more frequently after the programme? |
YES 80% |
 The Onside programme was launched in January and is a revolutionary new scheme aimed at 16-18 year olds, designed to improve confidence, communication skills, physical fitness and self-esteem in order to assist them into further education, training or employment. The project is a partnership between Wooden Spoon, Gloucester Rugby and Prospect Training, funded by Spoon’s principal corporate Supporter, TNT. Sport England through its Sportsmatch programme generously match funded the TNT contribution which allowed the project to reach an extra 40 young people.
The unique element of this programme is that the youngsters also receive a Qualification which provides credits towards more qualifications. It is hoped that many of the participants will go on to either join the Army, the catering department at Gloucester RFC or join the coaching team.
The youngsters recently graduated from the programme after eight weeks and a presentation was hosted at Gloucester RFC. After a presentation of their academic work the youngsters received their course certificates before showing off their newly acquired rugby skills with Ambassador Mike Tindall.
Sixteen year old Camilla said: “It has been really good and I have learnt all about life style and healthy living. I have even started eating fruit.”
Katie Godden from Delivery Partner Prospect Training was really impresses by the youngsters who attended the Onside programme: “Their Commitment to the programme has been brilliant and they worked really hard and have done really well. For us it is a great incentive to carry on with the programme to reach out to event more youngsters”
Stuart Stobie, Divisional Managing Director of TNT Express UK said: “There's a common thread that runs through Onside, Wooden Spoon, Gloucester RFC, Prospect Training and TNT in that they're all supported by people who are passionate about what they do and who are committed to delivering great results, every time. Those results speak for themselves and I know everyone involved with Onside - the coaches, the tutors, Spoon all the way through to ourselves at TNT - have been absolutely delighted at how well it has been received and the outstanding pass rates achieved by the young men and women who have taken to it with such enthusiasm.
“Onside is a prime example of what can be achieved with a little imagination, some hard graft and the inputs of some very talented people. It helps showcase the wonderful sport of rugby as a great vehicle for delivering new learning which can open up new horizons for the youth of not just Gloucestershire, but potentially the country at large.”
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