Community Wellbeing Hubs

The Community Wellbeing Hubs programme is an accreditation aimed to build stronger community clubs to enable them to play a greater role in delivering local social impact activities and providing an additional source of sustainability to the club.

The programme compliments the existing, incredible work that community clubs do that drives social impact into the heart of our communities.

We aim to strive beyond our target of establishing a network of 30 OuRLeague Life Community Wellbeing Hubs by 2030. The Social Impact programmes in community clubs represent our reach, relevance and are a crucial part of our sport’s sustainable future.

Principles of Community Wellbeing Hubs:

To utilise all facilities that a community Rugby League club has within the clubhouse and within the club grounds.

To continue to change the perception of a Rugby League club by diversifying and ensuring that the club welcome’s new community members.

To create a more sustainable future for community clubs by generating income and increased usage without compromising the playing of Rugby League.

To utilise our clubs in different ways in collaboration with others who contribute to our local communities, such as: schools, voluntary groups, the council, primary health care, other sports and activity providers.

Opportunities to generate income and raise awareness of what a Community Wellbeing Hub can offer in support of our aim of growing the game.

Benefits of Community Wellbeing Hubs:

Have a greater social impact on your community
Financial sustainability (projects, grants, partners, schemes)
Club Accreditation and Accreditation as a Community Wellbeing Hub
Support from the RFL’s Social Impact Team
Part of the CWH, a network for shared learnings and best advice

Process of becoming a Community Wellbeing Hub

Complete a short EOI form to register your interest.

Clubs showing great community work will be invited to initial conversations about joining the programme.

Individual meetings will take place and eligibility checks will be completed.

The club will be invited to join and contribute to the Community Wellbeing Hub Network – a peer community facilitated and supported by the RFL’s Social Impact Team.
The club will join the Our Learning Zone resource.

The RFL’s Social Impact Team will complete a site visit at the club.

We need to ensure the club committee are aware and agree with the accreditation and can support the programme.

Volunteer recruitment support for someone (or a subgroup) to lead the programme from the club.

Facility supports for the club to meet the requirements to be on the programme and signposting to wider support the club can access for facilities.

The club and RFL’s Social Impact Team will work together towards a launch day of the Hub, work including the below to take place:

Support the establishment of social impact initiatives at local, regional and national level at the club.

Gather list of current stakeholders and external users to invite.

Scope new connections.

Set the launch date.

Invitations to current users to showcase & advertise their activity but also to new, potential future local stakeholders (private and public organisations, groups, volunteers, wider community, including neighbours) who might not have been at the club before but could use the space.

Promotion and showcase the club (marketing support from the RFL including templates for leaflets online and physical, and social media support)

At the launch – RFL and clubs to be present. Refreshments provided by the club (financially supported by our sponsors AXA XL). Current users will be given space/stalls to showcase their activity. New stakeholders will be welcomed into the club to see the great work that takes place and the potential for using the facility (given a club tour). A brief talk from the club and The RFL will take place to provide networking opportunities. The launch can be linked to wider club activity or be a stand-alone event.

Post launch day follow up emails and media showcasing will take place.

The RFL will support the development of the Community Wellbeing Hubs individually and through the Community of Best Practice Network.
Clubs will need to have their Health Check and Development Plans up to date to receive accreditation. The RFL’s National Clubs Manager will support the club on this.
A plaque presentation will take place to all the clubs that are accredited onto the programme (financially supported by our sponsors AXA XL).
Support will continue post accreditation from the Social Impact Team, CWH Network meetings and OuRLearning Zone resources.

Our goal is to have Community Wellbeing Hubs in every region, and we will help set up your hub and help it grow and develop. We’ll share knowledge and experience through an established community of best practice network, identify funding opportunities and help with identifying volunteer support.

Complete your expression of interest here and a member of the Social Impact Team will be in touch shortly.

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