Strabane RFC Tackle Like a Girl Initiative

by Strabane Rugby Club in Strabane, Derry and Strabane, United Kingdom

Total raised £630

£10,000 target 37 days left
6% 4 supporters
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 11th December 2024 at 3:22pm

A new 20-week introduction to Rugby programme for girls in our community, delivered at Melvin Sports Complex encouraging girls to play Rugby

by Strabane Rugby Club in Strabane, Derry and Strabane, United Kingdom

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Who are we?

We are the only Rugby Club in Strabane and surrounding rural areas. The Club has grown immensely over the past few years and is now one of the most well-attended rugby clubs in Tyrone (especially in terms of youths). We now have in the region of 100 Club members, from all backgrounds and of all ages.

 As a brief snapshot, some of our activities include: 

- Rugby provision to include adult teams throughout the week. 

- A full youth and Mini section

- Daily Rugby activities Monday to Friday evenings and matches on Saturday all over the province and further afield. 

- IRFU qualified coaches delivering all sessions. 

The Club provides an important social and physical outlet for the community of Strabane, and although the focus is on rugby activities, it also provides a range of other health improvement initiatives. 

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Why are we crowdfunding?

We are excited to launch this Crowdfunder to get more girls into Rugby here in Strabane. This autumn and winter, we’re launching a completely new 20 week "introduction to Rugby" programme titled "Tackle like a Girl", in conjunction with the launch of our Lion Mascot. The programme delivered at Melvin Sports Complex, is designed to offer fun and active winter rugby activities for girls in particular, as well as new young people living in our Strabane community who have never played rugby before. 

Our goal is to create a vibrant, inclusive environment where everyone can enjoy Rugby, regardless of their ability. 

A key priority of this Crowdfunder is to use funds raised to encourage more girls to join our club, with the aim of creating 2 girls teams moving forward.

We will also bring Rugby and our Mascot to at least 10 primary schools and introduce young people to rugby in a after school / extra curricular basis (at Melvin Sports Complex). 

At Melvin Sports Complex, we will offer free taster sessions for up to 50-75 newcomers to the Club. 

We aim to develop 2 youth girls' teams on the back of this crowdfunded project.

To make this happen, we need your support through our crowdfunding. Your donations will help us cover the costs of equipment, facility hire, coaching awards, coaching costs and facilitators, refreshments, and promotional costs to ensure the programme reaches far and wide. 

Every little bit helps, and your support will have a huge impact on our community here in Strabane, getting more young people, and girls active and into rugby! Together, we can create a new, exciting rugby programme to create new rugby opportunities in Strabane. 

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How we’ll spend the money raised

We are aiming to raise £10,000 in total- £5,000 from our supporters donating and also Sport NI who will match fund the £5,000 we raise. Here is how we will spend the £10,000 raised:

Equipment and Girls Rugby Kits – £2,700

  • Rugby Gear: Rugby balls, bibs, cones, mini hurdles, girls tackle bags, and safety equipment.
  • 30 Girls Rugby Kits: Jerseys, shorts, and training gear for 2 girls' teams.

2. Coaching Awards and Coaching Costs – £4,400

  • Coaching Costs: Bringing in 1 qualified rugby coach, specialising in female coaching, for training sessions and team development 4 hours per week each x 20 weeks per coach @ £30 per hour per coach.
  • Coach Development: Ongoing training and certification for 4 coaches to upskill in girls rugby coaching @ £500 per coach. 

3. Marketing and Promotion – £500

  • Basic Advertising: Focused online ads and social media promotions to reach the target audience.
  • Taster Sessions Promotions: Publicising taster sessions etc.
  • Promotional Materials: Limited flyers and digital brochures to maximise reach within the budget.

4. Facility Hire at Melvin Sports Complex– £2,400

  • Facility Hire x 20 weeks 4 hours per week @ £30 per hour

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Community impact

Our project, "Tackle like a Girl," will have a significant and positive impact on the community here in Strabane, while creating new opportunities for girls in sport. Here's how we believe it aligns with the objectives of Sport NI's "Creating Opportunities" programme and contributes to community development:

1. Inclusivity and Accessibility for Girls in Sport

The heart of our project is to encourage more girls to get involved in rugby, a sport that has traditionally been male-dominated. By providing an entry point specifically for girls, we are addressing one of Sport NI's target groups- Women and Girls, an underrepresented group in many sports. This aligns perfectly with Sport NI's goal of "levelling the playing field" and creating more inclusive sporting environments for everyone.

2. Engaging New Participants and Developing Skills

Our programme will introduce rugby to girls and other young people in the Strabane community who may have never played before. Through our after school outreach and free taster sessions, we aim to create a fun and welcoming atmosphere for newcomers. This will help participants develop new skills, build confidence, and foster a sense of belonging, which directly supports Sport NI's objective of increasing participation in sport.

3. Long-Term Sustainability Through Team Development

We aim to establish 2 new girls' rugby teams, ensuring the impact of our project extends beyond the initial introduction. These teams will provide ongoing opportunities for girls to play rugby, build team spirit, and stay active. This effort will also help grow our club membership from girls (and more young people in general), which is a key outcome Sport NI seeks through its funding programme.

4. Community Building and Strengthening Social Ties

By reaching out to local schools and engaging the wider community, we believe this project will help strengthen ties between Strabane RFC and the community of Strabane. By making rugby more accessible and offering extracurricular activities, we aim to bring together diverse groups of people on a cross-community basis, helping to build a stronger sense of community around the shared love of Rugby.

5. Encouraging a Healthier, More Active Lifestyle in Strabane

We recognise the physical health benefits of rugby, especially for girls and young people in general. Through this programme, we aim to promote a healthier, more active lifestyle for our participants, which aligns with Sport NI’s goal of increasing physical activity and helping communities recover from the effects of inactivity.

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How you can play your part

There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.

1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!

2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.

3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!

4. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!

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Rewards

This project offers rewards in return for your donation. Please select a reward below.

£15 or more

3 of 5 claimed

£15 Reward

Donate £15 and receive £20 voucher for the Stashshop

£10 or more

3 of 3 claimed

£10 Reward

Donate £10 and receive £15 voucher for Hoods & Co Newtownstewart

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