St John Cymru Wales is the country’s leading first aid charity and its vision is to have a first aider on every street in Wales. This vision has created a strong foundation for a successful partnership with the WRU. The Welsh Rugby Emergency Aid course has proved a resounding success with 74 clubs accessing the WRU Recruitment Grant to host the course and access equipment.
As a result, 816 volunteers will participate in Rugby Emergency Aid training.
Julie Paterson, WRU Head of Group Compliance, said: “The WRU sees Emergency Aid provision as a vital function in providing a safe rugby environment and this view was reinforced by our recent Club Census.
“We’re delighted with the number of clubs and volunteers who have engaged in this programme, clearly demonstrating there is a need for this kind of training.”
“With this in mind, the programme will again be available to clubs for the forthcoming season.”
Responding to the results of the WRU’S recent Rugby Club Census, the WRU also ensured the course is delivered in clubhouses, an important factor in engaging with clubs and their volunteers.
Machen RFC was the first club to engage in the programme, hosting a club course for 10 volunteers on a wintery October evening last year. Even though clubs are currently in the off season, courses continue throughout the summer and into the new campaign with some clubs also running second courses to answer the demand they have for volunteer training.
Taffs Well RFC is one club who are currently organising their second course.
“We had a group of 11 volunteers attend our first course which was more than we expected,” said Junior Secretary Donna Marshall.
“As a result of other volunteers hearing about the course, we have enough interest to hold a second course which is a great success for our club.”
In addition to funding the training, the WRU Recruitment Grant was also used to provide individual first aid kits for the volunteers as well as club grab bags. This equipment is supplied in partnership with St John Ambulance Wales and the bags themselves are unique to the WRU. The ability to access equipment was central to the support provided to clubs who are manned predominantly by volunteers.
During the course of the season, the Rugby Emergency Aid course has also evolved into a mechanism to recruit new volunteers.
Cowbridge RFC have accessed WRU Recruitment Funding for the Rugby First Aid course to push forward an innovative approach to volunteer recruitment. The club will be asking one parent of their new under 7’s intake to attend a Rugby First Aid course to be held at the club in September. In addition to these new recruits, each existing team will also nominate a volunteer to attend the course.
Discussing the club’s initiative, Junior Chairman Dan Williams commented: “We hope this early engagement with parents will increase their connection to the club and take it beyond being parents on the sidelines to members of the club.
“The mix of new and existing volunteers is important to creating a welcoming approach within the club.”
The WRU Club Operations team will continue to work closely with all rugby clubs during the 2013/2014 season to access the WRU Recruitment Grant and other WRU funded initiatives. Clubs are encouraged to access existing programmes as well as concepts and ideas particular to their set up.
Any club wishing to access funding is advised to make contact with Claire Thomas, Club Support Advisor – Volunteering on CThomas@wru.co.uk.
