Scarlets Community Foundation’s active engagement across the region continues to go from strength to strength, with close to 6,000 people involved in community activities in the opening months of the season as the team brings the values and philosophy of rugby to an increasingly diverse number of groups and individuals.
With three new hub officers joining the dedicated community team based at Parc y Scarlets, the Foundation is now organising more outreach and stadium-based community events than ever.
Rhys Davies joins as Llanelli East officer, Oliver West focuses on the development and growth of the Scarlets inclusion programme and Luke Watkins joins as Pembrokeshire officer.
The Community team has so far delivered 83 rugby skill sessions in primary schools, with 1,660 youngsters enjoying the benefits of rugby for fun and fitness. The team has also hosted three major rugby festivals involving 290 young players.
Visits to our grassroots rugby clubs have been a big highlight this season with star players from the Scarlets senior and academy squads joining the Community team to help inspire 1,353 young players, a number of whom have taken up rugby for the first time.
Visits to Newcastle Emlyn, Haverfordwest, Burry Port, Kidwelly, Aberaeron, Llandeilo, Pontyberem, Neyland, Tycroes, Llanelli Wanderers, Cefneithin, Brynaman, Llandovery, Whitland, Amman Utd, Llangennech, Pontyates, Ammanford, Felinfoel, Crymych, Nantgaredig and girls hub Tywi Tornados have been made this season.
Scarlets’ home match days continue to be a focal point for club teams to join with U7s and U8s festivals, a Girls Hub Festival, an Intro Teach Primary School competition and the half-time tag teams all playing a part in making match day about rugby for all ages thanks to the huge indoor FSG Arena available at Parc y Scarlets.
The ever-popular Scarlets Rugby Camps have continued during half-term holidays as well as five Fit Fed Fun camps delivered in Milford Haven, Tregaron, Llandysul, Bryngwyn School and Trimsaran, providing more than 100 youngsters from with hearty breakfasts and lunches along with rugby coaching and fun activities for children of all ages and abilities.
The community team have also been delivering representative rugby skills sessions, along with hugely successful open training sessions held in Carmarthenshire (Parc y Scarlets), Ceredigion (Aberaeron RFC) and Pembrokeshire (Tenby RFC). Local school pupils have enjoyed the chance to come along and see the full Scarlets squad in action at a training session, as well as meet their heroes afterwards for photos and autographs.
Broadening access to rugby and its benefits to a diverse range of groups continues to be a key objective for the Foundation, with mixed ability rugby, inclusive community club and wheelchair rugby sessions organised in Cardigan and Carmarthenshire.
The Community team has also supported the Scarlets’ Sporting Memories group which meets every Wednesday at Parc y Scarlets and brings together the older generation of rugby supporters to help reduce isolation and improve mental and physical wellbeing.
Paul Fisher, Head of Scarlets Community Foundation said: “It’s been a busy start to the new season – we’ve been delighted with the engagement in the first few months with a packed schedule ahead.
“It’s been a pleasure for our teams to go out and meet so many new faces as we embrace the philosophy and values of rugby into our community programme and see the huge social benefits that these connections make.
“It’s been great to have Rhys Davies and Oliver West joining our team to help boost and focus the volume and impact of the outreach work we do.
“Our partnership with charity partners in our region including Tenovus, Mind, Links, Angor, The Wish Fund and Foster Wales Carmarthenshire has been strengthened as the local teams become part of our matchday community activities in the Supporters Village at home games.”
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AHEAD
CHRISTMAS RUGBY FEST – join in our clubs’ festival extravaganza at Parc y Scarlets on Sunday, December 15 ahead of the big European fixture between Scarlets and Black Lion. The festival kicks off at 9am and goes on until 11am.
