Facilities and Rugby
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need to be aware that the thing people will support is their
local community and their people and it is important not to
forget that.
My second piece of advice would be to talk to the RFU
as soon as possible in the process. We have professionals in
place that can provide guidance on funding, gaining grants,
designs and the best way to operate your facilities so make
contact as soon as you can so we can help you from an early
stage. Difficulties will always crop up and the more we know
the more we can help.
The third thing is a really simple one and that is to start
raising money. The more money you can raise the more you
will have available. Secondly, if you can show that it matters
enough to you to go out and raise money then they know that
you are serious about it. I wouldn’t put a figure on that as it
is different for different clubs, it is more about demonstrating
the efforts you’ve gone to make the project happen. That
makes it different to simply asking for a handout. Funders
are investing in a rugby club and in return they want to
see that you are committed, making it happen and not just
waiting for someone to come along, wave a magic wand and
do it for you.”
Ambitions
“We are now working on a new facilities strategy which
will cover the next five years. It is important that we embrace
technology now and work with club’s so that they receive
the maximum benefits from any work they carry out. Our
ambitions are to deliver the new strategy and use facilities
to make the biggest possible difference to the game so that
we have more people in the game both on and off the field.”
Useful Information
RFU Grants
The RFU now provides Local Club Grants for facility
improvements. These are managed and administered locally
by RFU staff and Constituent Body volunteers. To find out
more and see whether your project might be eligible; please
contact either your CB Facilities Co-ordinator or RFU Area
Facilities Manager to log your interest.
RFU Loans
The RFU provides interest free loans of between £5k and
£100k for clubs playing at level 3 and below, repayable over
a period of up to 15 years. To find out more and see whether
your project might be eligible, please contact your RFU Area
Facilities Manager.
Rugby Groundsmen Connected (RGC)
Rugby Groundsmen Connected (RGC) is an easy access,
two-way communication network between the RFU and
rugby union groundsmen. It is the main communication
channel for the RFU to provide information and advice to
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groundsmen and also has special offers and exclusive
benefits for members. Everything the RFU does related to
pitch maintenance will now come under the banner of Rugby
Groundsmen Connected.
Sport England’s Small Grants
The Small Grants programme makes awards of between
£300 and £10,000 to help more people get involved in sport
and physical activity.
You can apply if your organisation is a voluntary or community
club or organisation, registered charity, not-for-profit
company or community interest company.
Community Asset Fund
Whether it’s the park you run through, the hall you do classes
in or the pitch you play on, welcoming and accessible spaces
have a big impact on a person’s experience – and likelihood
of coming back.
Our Community Asset Fund is a programme dedicated to
enhancing the spaces in your local community that give
people the opportunity to be active.