Bancroft Bring Social Change
A group of players and coaches from Bancroft RFC in Essex set out to lose weight together, but have gained the kind of combined strength of purpose to make a real difference in their community.
What began as a couple of slightly older, slightly more overweight players using their own self-improvement to inspire others, has become a number of programmes for social change under the Chunks2Hunks (C2H) banner.
A WhatsApp group of players looking to support each other in losing weight and maintaining good mental health, involved making a £1 donation for every pound lost, and the funds were used to help the club’s youth section buy a new scrum machine. Members of the group then decided to support the club’s youth coaches in developing drills, practices and training sessions using the new equipment.
Young players & inclusivity
The C2H Project began delivering a programme to support Under 18 players in their transition towards adult rugby. Through coaching, mentoring, strength and conditioning training, young players were helped to develop the physical attributes, skills, knowledge and mental well being to make a successful and effective move to adult rugby. This initiative was shared with three local clubs, with the intention of expanding further.
Members of The C2H Project also worked alongside two local primary schools, providing opportunities for children with autism and learning needs to play competitively alongside their friends in school tournaments. This project engaged: 74 new children, eight new primary schools, two new secondary schools, 24 new senior school children/sports leaders and 43 new primary teachers in this inclusive programme.
Help in a crisis
With all of this on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The C2H Project has been supporting a range of local charities and organisations such as: The Redbridge Wellbeing Service, The Corner House Project, The Magpie Project, Feed the Streetz, the Malachi project and a hostel for the homeless.
The group are collecting and delivering essential clothing, hygiene products and food parcels to their community’s most vulnerable families, supporting the isolated elderly, those facing poverty, and those who have experienced forced evictions.
Working with a local BP/Marks & Spencer’s garage and food hall, they have been delivering food donations to a local hostel supporting 49 young men attempting to move from living on the streets towards sheltered accommodation, employment and the chance of starting a new life.
The C2H Project and CP Performance UK, who provide online strength and conditioning coaching for athletes and coaches, are also supporting local schools by designing games for the garden, a collection of simple games families can play together, based on tag rugby skills. Players and coaches have on media platforms been sharing with children, teachers and families physical activities and exercises designed to improve strength, coordination and wellbeing.
Pictures & letters
The C2H Project is also supporting the Redbridge Smiles Together campaign, a feel-good community initiative encouraging children to draw or paint positive pictures or write letters which are then delivered alongside food bank parcels to vulnerable residents self-isolating.
Most recently, the project has focused on collecting clothing, toys and food parcels to support young mothers and their children who are living in temporary accommodation as victims of domestic violence. After a recent delivery to a young family they received this message:
“Thank you for everything done for this family. The mother was very emotional and could not speak for a minute after seeing the two bags. The children were very excited especially when they saw some of the clothes and toys for them. On behalf of Feed The Streetz and this family, thank you all so much. Mum’s exact words were, “My kids are totally overwhelmed.”
With the belief that unity is strength the Chunks have lost an average of 17lbs per group member, while finding the unity and strength at Bancroft RFC to design and deliver social change projects with and for the community the club is striving to support.
