Malton and Norton RUFC's covid support campaign

Aim

We want to ensure that, despite the challenges of Covid 19, Malton and Norton RUFC remains a key part of the community in the Ryedale area.

Who are we?

Malton and Norton RUFC has been a key part of the Ryedale community for nearly 60 years. The Covid 19 pandemic has hit us hard - home matches for our senior men's first XV are a key source of income for us, along with the use of the clubhouse for wedding receptions and other functions.

What do we do?

As a rugby club, we exist to play rugby and to welcome people of all ages and walks of life to play the best game in the world, Rugby Union.

We have players, male and female, from age 4-60 across 21 teams.

We have excellent links with local schools with our club development officer helping young people fall in love with sport. We also, in "normal times" welcome local schools to the club for inter-school competitions.

We have several former players at the highest levels after starting their rugby journeys at the club. Tom Francis & Will Witty at Exeter, Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti at Newcastle, Rachel Lund & Tatyana Heard at Gloucester Hartpury and Morwenna Talling at Loughborough Lightning. Tom is a frequent player for Wales and Rachel and Tat have played for the England Red Roses with Morwenna getting a call up for the end of the 2020 six nations.

We have a large youth section helping young boys and girls fall in love with Rugby Union.

As a club we recognise the impact lockdown has had on the mental and physical health of our young people. We couldn't wait to get them back to the club as soon as we were allowed and it was safe.

What else do we do?

Our car-park is also host to a mobile NHS chemotherapy unit, allowing patients with cancer to access their treatment nearer to home.

We are also used by the NHS for courses and meetings and for social events by local organisations and individuals.

How has covid affected us?

We have been well supported during lockdown by local and central government grants, allowing us to furlough valued staff and keep the clubhouse ticking over in a dormant mode.

But now that things are opened up a little more we are finding it tough to make ends meet because of the restrictions imposed. We can't play much in the way of rugby and when we do we can't have many people enjoying the facilities.

We normally host a raft of key social events from the club ball, the sportsman's dinner and others for members as well as hiring out the clubhouse for weddings, birthday parties, christenings, wakes etc. This has all stopped dead.

We have money in the bank to keep us going until next summer but if the restrictions carry on beyond them we may be faced with having to make some tough decisions to ensure the ongoing viability of the club.

We are very grateful for all our members who have renewed their memberships at this uncertain time. We are also grateful to our club sponsors for renewing their vital arrangements.

What will we spend the money on?

Your valued support will help the club in the following ways:-

• Creation of an outdoor area which will allow us to host more spectators when we can begin to play matches again. This area will improve viewing for wheelchair users too.
• Maintainance of the pitches during the winter.
• Maintaining our clubhouse and changing rooms, including any alterations and adaptation needed for a post-covid world.
• Implementing measures to safely return to rugby from COVID-19 for all club players, coaches, staff, volunteers, members, and supporters.
• Support the loss of match-day and clubhouse booking income, which will support all areas of the club while we work through the crisis.
• Continued deployment of our club development officer at the club and in local schools to ensure young people have access to enjoyable outdoor exercise.
• Providing rugby as an outlet for all at these difficult and uncertain times.

Rewards

As a thankyou for those who donate to our campaign we will be offering a variety of rewards. This list will be updated regularly but at the start of the campaign we are offering club memberships, entries for our weekly club draw and vouchers from local firms.

This project successfully funded on 15th January 2021