On July 1 last year Their Royal Highnesses the Earl and Countess of Forfar saw the work of The Strathmore Community Rugby Trust (SCRT) on their first visit to the town after gaining their new Scottish titles.

As part of an afternoon of visits to community projects, the Earl and Countess visited Inchmacoble Park, home of Strathmore RFC – where the three-year-old community trust runs a number of initiatives designed to increase communities’ participation in sport in Angus to benefit their health and wellbeing and develop people into healthy, positive members of the community.

Their Royal Highnesses saw the Stracathro Estates Rugby Academy in action, which teaches secondary pupils life skills as well as rugby, before being introduced to Rugby Academy members taking part in various rugby activities and conditioning games.

The Earl and Countess also saw the Strathmore Clan taking part in a Unified Rugby session, which provides people with disabilities the opportunity to build confidence and social skills by engaging in a controlled game of contact rugby while also accommodating their individual needs.

The Royal couple also learned about the Trust’s autism-friendly rugby for primary children initiative, which was introduced to Scotland in May last year. The sessions create a positive learning environment for children with or undergoing diagnosis for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their siblings to have fun while developing confidence and social skills as well as general physical literacy and sporting skills. They also provide respite and social contact for parents and carers.

Finally, The Earl and Countess met other people involved in the trust’s work, which also includes Walking Rugby – a slower, non-contact version best suited to adults wanting to be more physically active or recovering from illness or injury. It also helps reduce social exclusion through the post-match ‘cuppa and cake’ engagement between players.

His Royal Highness was touched at the extraordinary work done by the trust with young people, an area he has always been very interested in. He is a leading advocate of non-formal education and learning in the development of young people, has a leading role in the Duke of Edinburgh Award reaching more than 130 countries, and over many years supported charities which provide opportunities for children through The Wessex Youth Trust. So when SCRT asked if he would agree to be its Royal Patron, the Earl naturally agreed.

Strathmore Community Rugby Trust was founded in 2017 to increase public participation in sport, particularly rugby union and rugby league, in the Forfar, Kirriemuir and Brechin areas to benefit community health and wellbeing as well as develop young people into healthy, positive members of the community through the positive ethos and values of rugby.

It’s based at Strathmore Rugby Club in Forfar and works in partnership with Strathmore RFC, Brechin RFC, sportscotland, Scottish Rugby and Scotland Rugby League.