Initially, the scheme was a partnership between Bristol Rugby and the group called the BreakThrough Project, which is an inclusion project, run in South Gloucestershire for young people who could do with some support in life. 

One of the children from the BreakThrough Project took part in Bristol Rugby’s EDF Energy Tag Rugby Programme this season and enjoyed it so much he wanted to continue his involvement. 

His parents are unfortunately unable to help him follow his love of the game and this is where the idea for the joint sponsorship scheme was born.  Huge thanks must go out to the staff of the BreakThrough Project and South Gloucestershire Council for their help and forward thinking in this joint venture.

Steve Spiers, Senior Sports Development Officer with South Gloucestershire Council and driving force behind the BreakThough Project has been more than happy to get involved:

“We are really pleased that Bristol Rugby has been so willing to develop a partnership with the BreakThrough Project. We work with some of the areas most vulnerable and disaffected young people and sport is often the only thing that they really connect with."

"Bristol Rugby has a lot of credibility with youngsters and after last year's fantastic season, being involved with the club in any way means a lot to them. We all know of stories where sport has turned people's lives around in a positive way and we hope this partnership will continue to help lots of local kids get stay involved in sport and experience all the positive things rugby has to offer.”

The impact and value of using sport (and rugby in particular) as a method of connecting with disaffected young people in the Bristol community has caught the attention of Avon Fire & Rescue Service, who were very keen on being involved with the joint sponsorship scheme. 

Jack Russell (Community Safety Officer with Avon Fire and Rescue Service) has been delighted with the progress made in such a short space of time. 

“After a number of meetings with Ben [Breeze], it became clear we shared a number of common goals and objectives.  The opportunity for Avon Fire and Rescue Service to get involved in this ground breaking work with disaffected young people from some of the more deprived areas of the Avon Fire and Rescue catchment was ideal." 

"When you consider the cost of a single car fire to the Fire & Rescue Service is £4,500 (excluding the value of replacing the car itself!) we were more than happy to get involved in a scheme that could take some of these young people ‘off the street’ during the school holidays and get them involved in one of Bristol Rugby’s Premiership Academy Camps.”

The Avon Fire & Rescue Service and BreakThrough Project Joint Sponsorship Scheme will initially offer 5 placements per camp. However, the sponsorship is part of the reward scheme for progress made inside their project, so only young people who have shown progress will get the chance.

Ben Breeze, Bristol Rugby’s Community Development Manager is delighted with the progress the department has made in such a short space of time:

“We in the Bristol Rugby Community Department have an open door policy and I am delighted to have begun this joint venture with Avon Fire & Rescue Service and the BreakThrough Project.  This is a truly meaningful step in the right direction by helping parts of our community that need it the most." 

"The idea for this partnership came from some accurate allocation of our ever expanding EDF Energy TAG rugby programme from South Gloucestershire Council and my thanks must go to them for all their help and open minds." 

"The first sponsored young person to be sponsored, attended one of this summer’s Premiership Academy Camps enjoyed his tie with us so much he now regularly attends training sessions at his nearest combination rugby club.”

If you would like to know more about the BreakThrough Project, or would like an application form you can contact Steve Spiers directly 01454 865857 or email him at steve.spiers@southglos.gov.uk
 
If you are part of an inclusion project and would like to get involved in the Bristol Rugby Premiership Academy Camps Joint Sponsorship Scheme, please feel free to email Ben Breeze (Community Development Manager) at bbreeze@bristolrugby.co.uk or directly on 07966 797343.