Leeds Rugby Foundation is Leeds Rugby's registered charity, Registered Charity No. 1112580. The Foundation was formed in 2006 to assist both Leeds Rhinos and Leeds Carnegie with the delivery of their sport, health and educational work with children and young people living in communities throughout Leeds and Yorkshire.
In a short time, the Foundation has built a team of volunteers and 13 fulltime Rugby Development Officers who work under the guidance of Leeds Rugby Foundations General Manager, Chris Rostron.
The foundation delivers a range of services and activities that aim to improve the lives of young people throughout Leeds and Yorkshire. Our services including rugby and sports coaching in schools and junior clubs, Activity Camps, Lifestyle presentations, Health and Social inclusion projects. The foundation epitomises the culture of Leeds Rugby and has provided opportunities for thousands of youngsters to develop themselves in sport, health and education.
Our work is wide reaching and diverse allowing for children of all backgrounds to take part. Particular attention is given to providing services for children living in areas of social and economic deprivation. As a result of the work carried out by Leeds Rugby Foundation, children and their families are becoming involved with rugby, engaging with the club and its players and therefore are leading more positive and healthy lives.
Objectives:
• A Charitable Trust formed to provide sports, health and educational opportunities to the young people of Leeds and Yorkshire
• To use the 'Power of Sport' in the clubs' community to inspire, motivate and educate individuals within it
• To develop the clubs' reputation and brand
• Top create more fans, players, administrators and volunteers
Activity:
Leeds Rugby Foundation is the umbrella organisation for two professional rugby club's community programmes. Initially the foundation offered sports development; however over the last eighteen months the foundation has developed the range of services it offers to the community. Our activity is now structured into five key themes.
• Sports: Leeds Rhinos and Leeds Carnegie sports development programmes work with approximately 300 primary and secondary schools, 100 amateur rugby clubs, 25 holiday coaching camps, 30 match day festivals per year.
• Health: Leeds Rugby Foundation delivers positive lifestyle messages to approximately 160 schools annually.
• Education: Leeds Rugby Foundation has its own classroom facility at Headingley Carnegie Stadium dedicated to raising standards in literacy, numeracy, ICT and PSHCE.
• Social Inclusion: The Re Engage with the Rhinos project provides positive motivation and inspiration to socially disadvantaged young people, coaching them to become Sports Leaders & First Aiders. Leeds Carnegie targets 10 schools located in the Lowest Super Output Areas in the county. Schools receive coaching support, lifestyle and teacher education and equipment.
• Arts & Culture: Leeds Rugby Foundation has been involved in a variety of projects under its Arts and Culture policy, including the commission of a seven minute orchestral anthem for Leeds Rhinos, called Hold On, which was composed by Carl Davis and recorded by the orchestra of Opera North; a year long artist in residence programme that culminated in an exhibition at Project Space and a choreographed modern dance to Hold On, which was featured at the regional launch of the Cultural Olympiad.
Key Achievements:
• The Foundation's efforts were recognised at the 2008 Sports Industry Awards, when they received "runner up" in the Community Award category against six other projects including Barclays Spaces for Sport, Kellogg's Swim Active and Tesco's Get Active Programme.
• In 2008 over 50,000 young people participated in Leeds Rugby Foundation's community programmes in one form or another
• In 2009 Leeds Rugby Foundation celebrates its three year milestone and records an investment of £450,000 into the local community
• Over the last eighteen months Leeds Rugby Foundation has entered into partnerships with twenty one supporting organisations that have provided funding and support for our community based projects.
Trustees of the Leeds Rugby Foundation are:
• Nigel Brook - Assistant Officer, West Yorkshire Police
• Helen Whitrod Brown - Associate Dean Leeds Metropolitan University School of Leisure and Sports Management
• Keith Parker - Councillor for Kippax & Methley
• David Gent - Regional Director of Sport England Yorkshire
• Peter Hirst - Finance Director & Company Secretary, Caddick Group plc
• Stephen Ball - General Manager of the Rugby Football League Benevolent Fund
• Gary Hetherington - Chief Executive Officer, Leeds Rugby Limited
• David Oxley - CBE, Chairman Leeds Rugby Foundation
