Lottery Windfall Secures Future of Angus Charity's Rugby Project

Strategic Insights -

Strathmore Community Rugby Trust, a charity from Angus, has secured a lottery windfall of almost £99,000 to finance its rugby academy programme, which helps young people improve their health and confidence through rugby. The lottery grant, one of the largest in the charity's eight-year history, will fund the trust's rugby academy programme of rugby and life skills for Angus senior school pupils. The project, which runs term-time Friday afternoon sessions for pupils at Forfar Academy, Brechin High School, and Webster's High in Kirriemuir, aims to develop life skills and inspire possible career options by offering participants an opportunity to gain coaching qualifications and experience in different roles.

Key Takeaways:

  • The charity, Strathmore Community Rugby Trust, has received a lottery grant of £99,981 to fund its rugby academy programme for three years.
  • The programme runs term-time Friday afternoon sessions for pupils at Forfar Academy, Brechin High School, and Webster's High in Kirriemuir.
  • The programme teaches life skills as well as rugby ones at Strathmore Rugby Club in Forfar and local pitches.
  • Participants in the programme gain coaching qualifications and experience in different roles, inspiring possible career options.
  • One of the programme's young success stories is Mia White, who was a participant in 2017 and is now a full-time paid community project worker.
  • Mia credits the programme for helping her develop confidence, social skills, and rugby skills, as well as securing her current job.
  • The charity's community trust manager, Maggie Lawrie, said the funding secures the project's future for three years, placing the trust in a strong position to continue supporting the community.

Statistics:

  • £99,981: the amount of the lottery grant secured by Strathmore Community Rugby Trust.
  • 3 years: the duration for which the grant will fund the rugby academy programme.
  • £100,000 threshold: the minimum amount required to be considered one of the largest grants in the charity's eight-year history.
  • 15 years: the period of inactivity required for dormant bank and building society accounts to qualify for funding through Young Start.
  • 99.9%: the percentage of Mia White's life that she credits the rugby academy for changing.

Sources:

  • Strathmore Community Rugby Trust's website, strathmoretrust.co.uk, specifically the project's webpage rugbyacademy/