Percy Park RFC in the community

A quick recap. In November 2019 Percy Park became involved with Coach Core and the Royal Foundation with the aim of developing the next generation of inspirational coaches, and chose Adam Hay as our Community Rugby Development Officer. Tom Robinson has recently joined Adam as an apprentice under the tutelage of our player coach Ash Smith.

Adam and Tom have been tasked to reach out to partners in our local community to give young people an opportunity to enjoy and play the game of Rugby Union in a safe environment.

The question we have been asked is: how are we doing?

The answer is an easy one. Very well. We have seven primary schools in the North Tyneside area ‘signed up’ to our development programme. Adam and Tom are representing Percy Park in lesson time and after school clubs.  Not only that, through their involvement, Percy Park has held three school festivals with 200 plus young people attending our club to play age appropriate rugby. Adam and Tom have proven to be popular role models.

When they gave the offer of free admission to watch a 1^st XV game against South Shields Westoe, Percy Park was inundated with young people wearing their Percy Park Community T shirts running around our club grounds throwing or kicking rugby balls to anyone would pass the ball back. Whilst engaged their parents enquired of club official’s information on how they could get their child involved whilst taking advantage of the match day environment.

Sunday mornings have always been the traditional game time for our younger members. Adam and Tom are around assisting with coaching and team games. Playing an active role in coach development. Their presence has helped as interested families take their first steps through the gates. A daunting step for any young person made easier by our Development teams presence.

Adam and Tom are also involved with our junior teams helping out at mid week training providing that ‘extra’ to our volunteer coaches. We all know that numbers in different age groups can fluctuate. To assist Adam and Tom have been in discussions with middle and senior schools to see if we can support their curriculum. I am pleased to report that we have two middle and senior schools signed up with programmes starting in November 21.

None of the above would have been possible without the support and financial assistance of Wade Financial and the Northumbria Police Crime Commissioner (PCC). Kim McGuiness and her team are involved!!

Where else has our development team had an influence?

Along with assistance from Northumberland Rugby Union, Adam has been involved in supporting and preparing our embryonic Woman and Girls team to play the game of Rugby Union. Over 25 women participate in a female only training sessions. Adam and the volunteers involved with the team, have put in plenty of hard work and its paid off. Our Percy Park Panthers side playing competitively in the Women’s National League. There is still work to be done with an aim to start a team that young girls can participate in. Hopefully the days where our young people had to migrate to Morpeth, Tynedale or Whitley Bay Rockcliff will soon leave us.

Outside of our rugby club we have established a great relationship with Coach Core and RISE in Tyne and Wear. RISE is an organisation that aims to unlock the potential of young people through physical activity. Creating a better quality of life for our communities. Coach Core and RISE students are assisting Percy Park with school festivals and will aid our 150^th year of being celebrations.

If you have a moment take a look at www.wearerise.co.uk they provide a platform for many to create better life choices and we at Percy Park are a big part of that effort in North Tyneside.

Giving opportunity is a statement all at Percy Park RFC are invested in. We are, and always will be, a people focused rugby club that prides itself on being a focal point in our community. Adam Hay, Tom Robinson and Ash Smith are an integral and a talented part of that effort.

The author answered the question How are we doing? with a bold ‘very well’ we at Percy Park believe the evidence is there to be seen. Others have seen it too. We have been nominated in the Employer of the Year category for a National recognised Award to be held at the Kia Oval in London on 10^th December 2021. Maybe the bold answer of ‘very well’ isn’t all that bold!!