By Paul Smith 
The charity Coventry Rugby Foundation which works “hand in glove” with Coventry Rugby Club has held an event to showcase the work it does through its landmark project “Project 500”.
Project 500 aims to give children a safe place to come during the school holidays. The basic premise is that they can experience all sorts of sports and games, eat wholesome food and receive a family food parcel of healthy food at the end of the day.
The Foundation invited a number of representatives from charities that help to fund both Project 500 and other Foundation projects to see first hand what Project 500 delivers.
Jon Sharp, chair of Coventry Rugby, opened the session with a welcome. He reminded guests of the consistent goals of the rugby club. He underlined the Club’s basic ethos: “We determined from the start that Coventry Rugby should be at the heart of the community, working in it and providing facilities for community use. Working with the Foundation and utilising our community team, we are able to reach thousands of people and give them the lift in life that they so often need. Project 500 is a great example of the work that we do in partnership with Coventry Rugby Foundation.”
John Edwards, chair of Coventry Rugby Foundation, took guests through an overview of the Club and Foundation’s community work and then through more detail on Project 500 itself.
Edwards said “During 2024 alone more than 1700 children have come through the sessions – a record in a single year with the Christmas camps still to come. This half term camp included three sessions covering today’s general session, along with two others dedicated to special needs pupils and a female only event.
Our aim is to transform lives through the power of sport and we see Project 500 as a key enabler. We know just how important physical exercise, both for physical and mental wellbeing is. Supporting children to access sporting activities and games that they probably haven’t or can’t experience is a powerful way to help improve their life chances and support them to be the best they can be.
While 2024 has been a record year for Project 500, we know that there is so much more we need to do. We greatly appreciate the funding provided by those here today and ask for you to continue to support this vital work and help us to significantly expand our activities in the coming year. We know that your support makes a real difference to these young lives and helps to give them insight into healthy and safe activity that can help to improve their chances of a healthy adult life”.
Guests were able to see over 50 children undertaking activities supported by fully trained Coventry Rugby coaches in a safe and controlled environment.
To find out more about the work the Foundation does, visit https://www.coventryrugby.co.uk/community/
