Warriors stars have been rolling back the years, dusting off their old childhood memorabilia and reminiscing about their first grassroots amateur sports clubs in support of this year’s Aviva Community Fund.
Tom Heathcote, Chris Pennell and Phil Dowson have shared memories of their earlier years, dug out old images complete with over-sized kits and dodgy haircuts, revealed the bonds with their former teammates, who they are still friends with now, and explained how grassroots clubs helped them to achieve their dreams of becoming professional rugby players.
The Aviva Community Fund, a nationwide initiative that lends a helping hand to grassroots sports clubs and community causes, has reopened for a second year to offer funding of between £1,000 and £25,000.
This year, Aviva, the proud title sponsor of Aviva Premiership Rugby, has introduced a ‘Sport in the Community’ category, which means the hundreds of thousands of grassroots sports clubs across the UK can apply or reapply for funding in a sport-specific category this time around. The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 11th October.
Heathcote, who started playing at Salisbury RFC, said: “It is massively important. Everyone starts somewhere whether that’s at a grassroots club or school and everyone has those first memories of the time they picked up a ball or played a match. It's important no matter what level you get to you have those positive memories from playing when you are young and enjoy the game. It's important for kids to have the direction and support and rugby can give you that through doing well for a team or coaches.”
Pennell, whose first sports club was actually a tennis club in Fladbury, said: “It is where the future stars are going to be born. At grassroots level from a social point of view I think for kids these days it’s all about iPods and PlayStations, whereas for older children it was sport clubs. It's getting harder and harder to reach the next generation coming through but you have to do the best with what you have to create the opportunities.”
Dowson started playing at Sedbergh School and commented: “I think it’s vitally important the game is not just about the professional clubs but also about boys playing Saturday and Sunday, for first, second or third teams and schools. The community aspect is vital in getting people to share time together. It can be a focal point of a community. It can breed that team spirit and ability to work in a team which are vital skills. I played at school and it was great to go out and play, working as a team, have respect for a team, and preparation for games, it’s great for non-tangible bits as well as skills. The friends you make will last throughout life.”
Pete Markey, Brand & Marketing Communications Director at Aviva UK, said: “The Aviva Community Fund is the perfect way for Aviva to help communities come together and support the grassroots sports clubs and local causes that are central to a strong community. Last year, the Aviva Community Fund helped make a difference to hundreds of projects and causes the length and the breadth of the UK and we look forward to helping even more communities this year.”
To enter your club for a chance to secure funding, visit aviva.co.uk/community-fund or search for ‘Aviva Community Fund’.