West Fife rugby club spreads festive cheer for local causes

18 Dec 2020

With the ongoing pandemic impacting their ability to play rugby, Dunfermline RFC have turned their hand to giving charitable causes in their local community a much needed boost this Christmas, collecting presents and food.

Working together with Home Start Dunfermline, the club has spent the last 6 weeks collecting Christmas gifts and toys for kids aged up to five who may otherwise not receive a present, as well as donations of food and toiletries for Dunfermline Foodbank.

The club’s festive campaign has seen players past and present, along with volunteers and parents donate 706 kilograms of food, and over 300 presents for young children. On top of that, the club were also able to present Home Start Dunfermline with a donation of £5,000 on behalf of a committee member’s employer, AVEVA.

Club Captain Stuart Roy, who has fronted the campaign with support from the club committee and youth and senior coaches said:

“I’m really proud of the club for coming together to deliver something positive for those in need, especially after what has been an incredibly difficult year. Seeing the tables inside our clubhouse covered in gifts and food each week has been incredible, and it’s great to know that everyone’s generosity is going to make Christmas that bit better for families in the area.”

Club members from Dunfermline RFC pictured at Home Start Dunfermline, dropping off wrapped Christmas presents

The club, founded in 1893, now boasts a thriving youth section for both boys and girls, along with 3 senior men’s teams and their first senior women’s side, which was established in 2019.

Stuart explains that although the impact of Covid-19 has hindered the sporting aspirations for those teams, the club is using this time to look at their future, saying:

“The pandemic has presented a unique opportunity for us to take time to reflect as a club on what we have achieved and where we would like to go. Through this process we’ve come to realise that we want to do more for our community because ultimately, we would be nothing without the support and participation of people local to us.

“Our charitable work this Christmas is going to be the start of a long-standing commitment to support and work collaboratively with our local community.”

Steve Turnbull, Scottish Rugby’s Regional Director for the Caledonia Midlands region said:

“It’s excellent to see a club like Dunfermline RFC spread some festive cheer through their charitable work this Christmas, and their efforts will not doubt be appreciated by many families this year. On behalf of Scottish Rugby, I would like to thank Dunfermline RFC for demonstrating such kindness towards two deserving causes.”