SwansAid grant benefits young rugby talents

26th July
Foundation

The Swans Community Trust has presented Penlan RFC Juniors with a SwansAid grant of almost £2,000 after the rugby club successfully applied for funding.

Awarded £1999.29 at the end of last season, the rugby club will use the funds to help the club continue to grow its junior section.

Reformed four years ago with just six children, Penlan RFC Juniors have since grown and now gives numerous children in the area the opportunity to get involved in rugby.

“There are now around 100 children participating,” explained Mike Rush, the club’s junior secretary during a tour of the Liberty Stadium with club ambassador Lee Trundle.

“We cannot rely on funds from parents to buy much-needed equipment for the children to use so we will use this to purchase new equipment so that teams are not having to share balls and equipment.

“We are also rapidly growing our junior section and we therefore need to ensure that we have sufficiently trained coaches to meet the requirements of the new teams being created each year and to develop the knowledge of current coaches as the teams move up the age groups.

“It will allow us to reach out to so many more children in the area and offer them the opportunity to experience the benefits that everyone involved in rugby has experienced.”

The grant was one of four awarded to local organisations that support children and those with a disability in sport.

Totalling more than £14,000, the funds will be also be presented to The Play and Leisure Opportunity Library, Bonymaen Kids Play Initiative and 215 City of Swansea Squadron Royal Air Force Cadets.

Since its inception back in 2013, SwansAid has donated over £130,000 worth of grants, which have helped an array of sports teams, community projects and organisations.

From surfing to cycling and from football to gymnastics, a wide variety of different clubs have benefited in the past, and we take a closer look at what the current round of funding will be used for.

Applications are now closed but for more information, please email Helen@scfccommunitytrust.co.uk