LOCAL rugby club, Westbury RFC, has made considerable improvements to the club facilities, equipment, and training, since a huge fundraising event was held at the club in 2021.
Recognised for its community spirit and solely volunteer-led operations, Westbury RFC was one of four clubs – Aberdare RFC, Bannockburn RFC and Dunngannon RFC – selected for the series of fundraising events.
At the event, the club was joined by former British & Irish Lion and Bath Rugby full-back, Jason Robinson, current England rugby player, Emily Scarratt and The Good, The Bad & The Rugby’s, James Haskell, Mike Tindall, and Alex Payne. Over 550 people from the local community attended the fundraising event for a day of activities and pitch-side fun, which helped fundraise and drum up support for the club.
The day’s events were concluded by a live podcast recording of The Good, The Bad & The Rugby, guest starring Jason and Emily. Along with current rugby affairs, injuries and the day’s antics, the panel talked to the importance of grassroots rugby and how – with a little bit of digital and business support – clubs can take themselves to the next level.
The £9,000 raised from the event has since allowed the club to make much-needed renovations, which have transformed the clubhouse into a space for members of the local community to enjoy. The funds have also enabled the club to upgrade its equipment. This has allowed the club to provide coaching and analysis on the pitch, as well as improving their financial efficiency.
Emma Samways, Westbury RFC director said, “It has been a fantastic year since we held the event at Westbury RFC. We have seen an uplift across the club, particularly the men’s teams, but the new resources and equipment have also allowed us to improve the clubhouse and the efficiency of the bar. Vodafone’s social media tool kits have also helped to boost our volunteers’ digital skill sets, which will have a huge impact on the club.”
Vodafone’s chief commercial officer, Max Taylor said, “At Vodafone, we are committed to supporting grassroots rugby in the UK. It is fantastic to see how successful the fundraising events have been and how each of the clubs have put the funds to such effective use.”
