DONCASTER INCLUSIVE RUGBY EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY TRUST

‘Helping Doncaster to discover the spirit.’

Doncaster Knights has ambitions to not only play at the highest level, but also to play a full part in supporting and developing the community in which it sits.

The club recognises that sport is a fantastic engagement vehicle and that is has a “power” which can be used to inspire, to motivate and to educate individuals. Utilising this “power” in its community programme the club has made the decision to form a Charity, “The Doncaster Inclusive Rugby Education and Community Trust” (DIRECT). The Charity will run a range of programmes aimed at supporting all individuals within the Doncaster area.

It is felt that DIRECT can be used as a resource by stakeholders in Doncaster. Current work is ongoing to develop programmes with partners such as the Primary Care Trust, DMBC and the RFU and they will focus on five areas of activity:

Grassroots Sport – we will be working in a large number of primary and secondary schools in Doncaster, helping to encourage more children to enjoy and take part in sport.

Healthy Lifestyles – in partnership with the PCT we are building a healthy lifestyle programme to be used in schools.

Education – Using Sport as a theme, young people will have the opportunity to be educated through sport and experience life working in a professional sporting environment.

Stronger Communities – To use rugby, sport, role models and an invigorating environment to shape Doncaster’s tomorrow by providing support, activity and opportunity to young people in our area.

Club Development – we will be working to assist in the development of all the local clubs through coaching to fuel participation, fund raising and marketing support.

Tom Ryder who manages the community programme commented ‘This is an extremely exciting opportunity for us to develop our programme and to work with other key organisations in Doncaster and surrounding areas.’ To add momentum to its development, a new Rugby Development Officer, Ali Wood, and a Multiskills Coach, Rachel Campion, are employed to support these community activities.

The Doncaster Inclusive Rugby Education and Community Trust is supported by Doncaster Rugby Club, The Doncaster Children’s Fund and other funding bodies. Opportunities for mutually beneficial business support packages to help us drive our activities and to develop the diversity of our programme are available. For more information about helping DIRECT help ‘Doncaster Discover the Spirit’ please contact Ali Wood on 07894 935245 or ali.wood@castle-park.co.uk

NEWS UPDATE 1

Recent News

Community Programme Receives Accolade

At a Doncaster Children’s Fund Christmas celebration event, the project shared examples of good practice with other community partners. The project manager of the Children’s Fund described the work of the Knights Community Programme as ‘pioneering and entrepreneurial’ and commented on the worthwhile investment the Children’s Fund had made. The project manager went on to comment on the huge progress the Knights had made on and off the pitch.

New Community Associate Sponsorship Scheme

This season also sees a new means of local businesses supporting our DIRECT charity with a Community Associate Sponsorship which provides hospitality opportunities for companies involved, match day branding and tickets for community groups or schools.

New member of staff January 2007

Attendees of the Doncaster Multisport Summer Fun camps will find a familiar face a regular fixture down at Castle Park after Christmas. Rachel Campion, who also runs the Knights Realm Kidz Zone on Knights’ match days, was successful in securing employment as a Multiskills coach in a position that is based within the existing community programme here at Castle Park. The position is in partnership with Flying High School Sports partnership and Doncaster Knights with Rachel supporting existing activities whilst seeking to engage with more young people across the Borough who are involved in a whole range of activities. Rachel starts her post in January.

NEWS UPDATE 2

Insight into Castle Park Staff

Here we look at the role of Doncaster Knights RDO, Ali Wood, in his words:

Main roles:

"I have to deliver TAG rugby sessions to children at various primary schools around Doncaster. The sessions last for around one hour and I take two different classes at each school. Schools that receive the sessions are grouped together according to the secondary schools they feed into. For example I have been coaching Bessacarr, Lakeside, Sycamore, Hawthorn, Hatchell Wood and Willow. All of these feed into Hall Cross secondary school. The duration of the delivery will be based around term-time so for the previous mentioned schools it lasted six weeks (six sessions), from September to the middle of October. The other main part of my job is to organise and facilitate match day entertainment. This includes booking bands and dance acts, liaising with the mascot, players (for presentations) and stadium announcer, arranging pre and post match events and half time games. In addition to this I have to design and organise the Knight’s Realm Kidz Zone. Fortunately I have two people who help with all this - Rachel Campion and Lisa Davis, thank you. “ The picture above shows something of what goes on on match days.

“There is not much I do not enjoy but the pre-match coaching session stands out. The reason why I enjoy this so much is that it gives me a chance to connect with the children and hopefully teach them something, which they can see professional players doing in the game. It is also nice to see them do some exercise and practice their skills rather than just come and watch a rugby match.

On a personal note it is very satisfying to see the Knight’s Realm Kidz Zone populated on a match day. From what started off as some art boards has grown into an area, which is a place for the children to enjoy themselves under supervision whilst the parents can enjoy the match. Finally I really enjoy seeing Tom Ryder’s happily little face when he is tucking into an extra-large BLT from the crusty cob shop, with various ‘chasers’. He works hard for his lunch.”

"I would like to develop a Donny the Knight Kidz Club, where children can join and get various offers. An adventure playground for the Knight’s Realm Kidz Zone is something we are also interested in. There is so much to do!”