CashBack Schools of Rugby programme shows its worth

20 Dec 2018

Scottish Rugby has identified 15 new secondary schools situated in, or taking young people from, the most deprived areas of Scotland to introduce and develop a CashBack Schools of Rugby programme.

The Schools of Rugby programme has funded these secondary schools (and feeder primary schools), across Scotland targeting young disadvantaged people who are living in areas of deprivation, being excluded, or at risk of exclusion from school and being at risk of being involved in antisocial behaviour, offending/re-offending

So far 53% of participants come from the top 10 areas that feature in the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, reaching a total of 2,865 pupils.

The programme aims to provide opportunities, building capacity and confidence in disadvantaged young people whilst developing physical fitness, cognitive skills, physical competencies and personal qualities.

The project has brought participation in positive activities and helped young people contribute positively to their communities. The programme is delivering to children from primary through to the completion of secondary school.

In the CashBack Annual Report, Levenmouth Academy said: “We have been hugely impressed by the enjoyment that pupils are getting, the improvement it has made to attendance and the buzz it has created about rugby in the community.”

“We are only in the early stages of the program but even at this juncture the obvious and the more subtle benefits that it has provided for our pupils has become very much apparent in a short time.”

St Thomas Aquinas, who are also in the programme, said: “The School of Rugby programme has created a culture of respect, tolerance and inclusion within St Thomas Aquinas. Participation and physical activity have increased within the school with over 100 young people representing the school.”

Funded through the CashBack for Communities fund, a unique Scottish Government programme which takes money seized from criminals under the proceeds of crime legislation and invests them into sporting, social and cultural projects, the program aims to reach and impact 4,500 young people during its 3-year cycle.

Scottish Rugby’s Development team will be working closely with the selected schools to help deliver the programme in 2019 across their respective regions.

The schools delivering the programme are:

Hawick High School – Scottish Borders
Castlebrae / Gracemount – Edinburgh City
Lornshill Academy – Clackmannanshire
Falkirk High School – Falkirk
Levenmouth Academy- Fife
Coatbridge High School – North Lanarkshire
St Thomas Aquinas Secondary School – Glasgow City
Springburn Academy – Glasgow City
St Andrew’s Secondary School – Glasgow City
Smithycroft Secondary School –Glasgow City
Maxwelltown High School – Dumfries and Galloway
Cumnock East – Ayrshire
Auchinleck Academy – East Ayrshire
Auchenharvie Academy – North Ayrshire
Ayr Academy South – Ayrshire