The successful Rugby League volunteering initiative, “engage with your club”, which helps community clubs to improve their facilities will run again in 2013.

The initiative, run in partnership with former Super League sponsor, Engage Mutual and Rugby League Cares, the sport’s new charity, aims to help grassroots clubs to affordably improve their facilities and attract more volunteers by holding “action events.”

This will be the third year for the initiative and follows a successful 2012 which saw 80 clubs from across the UK register to be involved with support from Super League stars including Josh Charnley, Sam Tomkins, Lee Briers and Jamie Peacock MBE.

With plans to support even more participating clubs than last year, it is hoped that the 2013 “engage with your club” initiative will have even more impact in boosting Rugby League at the grassroots level.

“We are pleased to be continuing our partnership with Rugby League Cares, and look forward once again to supporting community rugby league clubs across the UK,” James Ogden, community activation manager at Engage Mutual.

The aim of the initiative is to help improve the provision of Rugby League within communities, by encouraging and highlighting the valuable contributions made by volunteers, as well as enhancing facilities.”

As in previous years, participating clubs will be invited to hold action weekends, and enlist the support of the local community to improve facilities. Previous weekends have seen activities ranging from cutting grass and clearing car parks, to painting walls and installing pitch barriers.

Chris Rostron, general manager, Rugby League Cares, added, “We are delighted that Engage Mutual has committed to supporting “engage with your club” for another year.”

“The results last year were amazing with over 900 volunteers providing 3,700 hours of support to produce club facility improvements worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.

We want to build on last year’s success and encourage more clubs, volunteers and partners to engage with their local clubs and deliver an outstanding legacy for the sport.”

The initiative is due to launch this spring. Clubs interested in taking part will be able to register and receive further information when the initiative kicks off.


For more information about the initiative, including pictures and a video please visit:  www.engagemutual.com/rugby

For more information on Rugby League Cares please visit www.rugbyleaguecares.org