Our Successes

Every junior rugby club makes a difference to the young people that go through their ranks. The clubs engaged with star* scheme have dozens of inspiring stories of how coaches, families and officials supported young people in fulfilling their potential.

Here are some of them:

Daley

Following a five year prison term, Daley’s father was killed in a motorbike accident. Daley was 11 and his mum brought him to Chew Valley RFC at a time when he was dealing with the impact of these incidents. Under the guidance of his coaches, he learned the basic skills of the game, developed fitness, eventually becoming an easy first choice pick for the uniquely successful team he’d joined.

Daley’s Mum said, “… playing rugby for Chew saved him from going down the wrong path in life – he’s a different boy.” Daley has since joined the Bristol Bears Academy and won a place at the SGS Academy to play rugby and study for a vocational qualification.

 

Emma

Emma joined one of our star* scheme affiliated junior rugby clubs following a referral from her support worker, who had found us through our website.
The previous 18 months, had seen Emma absconding from home and school and her relationships with mum and step-dad had become strained.


Emma had played rugby in school and enjoyed the release that it gave her hence the referral. The local club welcomed her with open arms, and with the support of star*, supplied kit, arranged transport and supported her step-dad to attend training sessions and matches with Emma. She settled well, developed good relationships with team mates, joined in with training and began to form relationships with the coaching team.

Two weeks into her time at the club, during a conversation in the changing rooms with team mates, Emma disclosed that she had been subject to sexual abuse at the hands of a group of adult men. She said that it had been going on for over a year and that she hadn’t told anyone. Her team mates supported her to immediately tell her coaches who then followed process and the police were called. Within 24 hours the men were arrested, support was put in place for Emma and her family, including ongoing support from the rugby club.

Fast forward 10 months.

Emma has started her second season at the club, surrounded by friends and the support of the club community. Emma’s school attendance has also improved dramatically with Mum and step-dad attending every training session and match… and volunteering their time to support the club. Emma’s younger siblings are all playing too and are very much part of the rugby family.

This is exactly what star* scheme was set up to do: provide a safe space where young people facing challenging experiences can go and become part of a community supported by trusted adults trained to do their very best. In addition, star* it is not just for the young person referred but their families too. In this example, they are not only are they very much now a part of the club they are giving back too.

James

James is one of four brothers living in council housing on the edge of the Chew Valley. A restraining order was placed on their father following several incidents of physical domestic abuse. James’ behaviour significantly deteriorated at school and was eventually expelled. His coaches supported James with regular visits, tailored training programmes, and one-on-one mentoring.

James now trains every day, won the Players’ Player Award in the 2021/22 season, has re-engaged with his school work, and ,his Mum says “Chew Rugby was the key part of his transformation.”