Page 31 - RFU Annual Report 2017

29
Strategic Report

Corporate Social Responsibility

Rugby union and the sport’s core and local rugby clubs in England, as they are able to. It also works with
values have a positive impact on received more than 40 applications, all stakeholders to reduce the risk of
the world around us, and the RFU’s with successful projects announced these and other injuries in the game.
social responsibility programmes in summer 2017. England Rugby
seek to increase the capacity, reach will be a major partner of Sport
and impact of rugby as a force Relief 2018 with fundraising events
for good on both society and the nationwide.
environment.
Try for Change
During 2016/17 the IPF provided
England Rugby has partnered with immediate welfare support to 11
Sport Relief in setting up the Try for individuals who sustained potentially
Change Fund to use the power of catastrophic injuries. This included
rugby union to improve and support funding over £800,000 of grants
the lives of disadvantaged people in to support rehabilitation and
England and across the world. The return home to an independent
fund is fully managed by Comic life. Thankfully not all will have a
Relief and aims to raise £4 million permanent disability, but for those
over four years to support rugby for who do the IPF is there for the rest of
change projects and programmes. their lives, enabling injured players
to access support and funding when
the statutory services are unable to
help. During the past season, almost
£400,000 of grant funding was
delivered to improve living facilities,
support rehabilitation and empower
individuals to undertake educational
and training courses or return to
work.

The IPF was also proud to
demonstrate its research programme
Over the next four years England to the charity’s Patron, Prince Harry,
Rugby will fundraise for Try for at the University of Bath, who have
Change through high profile events been working with the IPF for a
and national fundraising campaigns. number of years.
England Rugby and Comic Relief will
provide grants to charitable projects
and programmes using rugby, or the
rugby community, to deliver social
change and tackle significant social
challenges around education, social
inclusion, unemployment, mental
and physical wellbeing, personal
development and community
growth.

The Try for Change Fund will
also encourage charities, clubs,
and community groups, from the
grassroots in England to projects
overseas, to take up rugby for social
good to help improve the lives of
people who need it most. The RFU Injured Players
Foundation
Since October 2016 England Rugby’s
Official Events Programme has The RFU Injured Players Foundation
helped raise thousands of pounds (the IPF) provides lifelong support
towards Try for Change. In February to those who sustain a catastrophic
2017 a small grants programme, injury as a result of participating in
providing up to £10,000 to support rugby union, to empower them to
smaller charities, community groups, lead as full and independent a life

Annual Report 2017