Our own changing room

Coalville RFC Mini and Juniors

Coalville RFC, in the East Midlands, was founded in 1902, though the mini and junior teams were established in 1985. The club, which has 254 registered players in the younger groups, would like funding for more new kits and equipment.

About the initiative

This fantastic club was formed in 1902, with the mini and junior group taking a few more years to evolve (1985 to be precise, but until the miners' strike most of the local kids still worked down the pits!) All kids here are encouraged to work together as a team, and because of the nature of the game anybody can join in. Coalville is a relatively small but wonderful community and we have been extremely lucky over the years to have had the support of local companies both big and small. Children from every walk of life contact us regularly wanting to be part of the club...we never turn anyone away (even at 95 we can find work for you!) Rural areas have a difficult job to keep youngsters entertained and in touch with larger towns and cities. Through our sport, kids play every Sunday morning throughout the season and normally tour at Easter. As with any club it is difficult to raise funds for anything outside of the normal week-on-week running costs, but we do, and we want to keep this momentum going whilst looking at ways to expand and grow.

What we could do with a bronze award worth £1,000

We currently have 254 registered players in the mini/junior group. £1,000 between this number of kids may not seem much, but bearing in mind the majority of these players train together on Thursday evenings and play together at the club on Sundays, a lump sum of money would be a fantastic way of buying new kit and tackle bags to allow the coaches more freedom in the training and work they do.

What we could do with a silver award worth £12,500 or even the gold award worth £50,000

We currently keep all training aids in a secure "shed" which quite frankly could do with updating. £12,500 would allow us to replace the shed and stock it with new and much needed equipment.

Should we be lucky enough to secure the GOLD award (which seems almost inconceivable) we would most definitely use this towards building the kids their own changing room. Facilities at Coalville are fantastic and the kids are all proud to be part of this wonderful club, but we need to expand and the only thing preventing this is funding.

Our final word

Young adults (as I'm told children like to be called these days) move in and out of sport like a change in the weather. Amazingly our club sees very few players leaving, and, once a part of this addictive sport, members' enthusiasm and loyalty to Coalville is second to none.