Newcastle University Sport receives funding from the createdby rlwc2021 capital grants Legacy programme.
4 November 2022
The grant, which has been awarded to help more people play rugby league at grassroots level in at Newcastle University will fund the club’s new equipment and Give it a Go sessions.
Funding is provided from the CreatedBy RLWC2021 Capital Grants Programme. Delivered in partnership between RLWC2021, The National Lottery, the Rugby Football League, Sport England and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, the CreatedBy programme is a funding pot made available by the government and The National Lottery to support the legacy of the Rugby League World Cup by growing participation in the sport.
The funding will support two main aims. Firstly, we aim to engage with male and female students at Newcastle University who are new to rugby league and provide entry level opportunities to try the game. This will involve a one hour weekly session delivered at Cochrane Park throughout term 1 and 2. These weekly sessions will also provide further opportunity for developing players involved in our existing rugby league club to gain additional time on the ball, learning the game and developing their skills. These sessions will also provide the opportunity to for our rugby league club to enhance their coaching provision by recruiting two rugby league activators to deliver the sessions on a weekly basis. The second aim of the project is to ensure our existing rugby league club is appropriately equipped to train and perform on a weekly basis in BUCS. This will help with player retention, creating a welcoming environment which students are proud to be part of.
Liam Isaac, Partnership & Development Manager at Newcastle University said: “we are delighted to be awarded funding by CreatedBy RLWC2021. This funding will help us maintain our current players involved in rugby league at BUCS level and will also help us achieve our aims to grow the game providing all students with an opportunity to try rugby league, we hope this will be achieved by building on the momentum generated through the Rugby League World Cup, particular with so many games taking place in the North East”.
Jon Dutton, Chief Executive, RLWC2021, said: “The CreatedBy RLWC2021 Capital Grants
Programme is focused on ensuring the next generation of rugby league players have the best possible experience and barriers to participate are removed. We are delighted to award this grant to Newcastle University] and look forward to seeing the results of this investment that aims to deliver real change in their community. Our thanks go to the government and The National Lottery, and its players, for supporting the CreatedBy programme.”
Ralph Rimmer, Chief Executive of the Rugby Football League, said: “Hosting the Rugby
League World Cup in 2021 offers so many opportunities for everyone involved in the game in this country and beyond, and the projects that will be delivered by the CreatedBy RLWC2021
Capital Grants Programme will be a big part of that transformation. The RFL are proud to be involved in that process, and we congratulate all the successful applicants - and look forward to the impact of this unprecedented level of investment in the game for years to come.”
Charles Johnston, Property Director, Sport England, said: “We are proud to be working in partnership to deliver the biggest government investment into grassroots rugby league facilities the country has ever seen. With this funding, communities will gain better access to the facilities, improved infrastructure and essential equipment they need to be active. We are pleased the investment will provide benefit to people engaging in the men’s, women’s and wheelchair game, with a focus on those disadvantaged areas where inactivity levels are stubbornly high. By focusing our efforts on increasing participation in the game, we’re ensuring that the Rugby League World Cup’s legacy lasts long after the last ball has been kicked and the crowds have gone home.”
The Rugby League World Cup 2021 will be all inclusive, with the men’s, women’s and wheelchair competitions taking place simultaneously, under one tournament banner for the first time. Clubs, organisations and communities that run rugby league activities are encouraged to apply for this legacy funding by visiting www.rlwc2021.com/facilities. For further information visit their official social media channels, on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.