Rugby League’s Community Game clubs and organisations are currently being invited to apply for more financial support thanks to a £75,000 award from Sport England’s ‘Together Fund’.
The RFL has successfully distributed £300,000 to more than 160 clubs through Sport England’s Tackling Inequalities Fund since 2020. Now, the RFL’s dedicated Community Funding team is contacting clubs and organisations in the sport’s most deprived communities with the offer of further support for the Women’s and Girl’s and disability games.
Marc Lovering, RFL Director of Participation and Development, says: “Since the Covid pandemic hit in March 2020, the RFL has secured almost £1.9million of grant funding for the Community Game and passed on every penny of it to hard-pressed clubs and organisations. Our dedicated Community Funding team is now contacting all eligible parties, inviting them to apply and supporting them through this process until 17 March.”
The Together Fund is a continuation of Sport England’s Tackling Inequalities Fund, which aims to reduce the negative impact on activity levels due to COVID-19 and the cost-of-living crisis amongst under-represented groups. In the last two years more than £1.5million of ‘survival funding’ has reached nearly 200 Community Game clubs and organisations.
RFL Vice-President Sue Taylor adds: “This funding will be a lifeline to those within the Community Game still struggling to make ends meet. The Together Fund aims to tackle the legacy of the coronavirus pandemic and the current cost-of-living crisis by helping community groups in deprived areas to reach more people.
“Supporting under-represented groups is key to growing the sport, so we’re thrilled that the funding will also help build on the outstanding progress that is being made in the women’s and girl’s game, and in disability Rugby League.”
As extra money is available for the Community Game, Our League Active (OLA) members are being reminded of their own membership benefits. The popular loyalty programme gives community players and supporters the opportunity to collect valuable points and be rewarded by saving money on their OLA membership or even on match tickets and merchandise purchases.
Community players can build up points by making appearances for their club with bonus awards available for scoring tries and kicking goals. Members can also gain points when taking part in polls, player of the match votes or when playing the predictor in the Our League app.
