About the project

This project was a VIY project supported through the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Gen22 programme, providing employability-boosting volunteering opportunities, match-funded by Sport England.

The project:

We converted one of the existing changing rooms into this self-contained unit by creating a new doorway into one of the shower spaces. We also decorated all of the changing rooms in the club’s colours. The club also had a vandalism issue with motorcyclists able to get access to their pitch from a public footpath, damaging it in the process – so we constructed a fence and kissing gate to prevent this.

The young people: 9 young people from Telford Priory School, The Really NEET Project – Telford and Future Focus

The impact:

• 7 City & Guilds Entry Level 3 accreditations gained in Carpentry and Painting & Decorating
• “One student with previously poor attendance is now 100% so far this term since the project. Two others are now back in the mainstream school. They said that the project had a really good impact on their self-confidence. Another is doing really well since, with improved attendance and engagement with work.” Teacher, Telford Priory School
• A doorway created between changing rooms to allow for private shower space for females, which didn’t exist previously at the club
• The amount of young people and females becoming active at the club has increased significantly since our renovations
• 70% extra usable floor space created by the VIY project
• John Barclay, Club Chair, told us: “Safer shower space is now available for our increased number of female players and we are now offering rugby sessions to vulnerable adults with support from local police…. This project has provided the club with a super platform to build a bright future… we’ve been offered a new site lease for 50 years. Our members feel invested in and are taking interest in keeping the facility in a good state.” 

See more of our work in grassroots rugby here