Schools Community Coaching Programme
In 2003, Luctonians launched the Sun Valley Rugby Project with the aim of introducing rugby into local schools. The project gained momentum quickly and led to the creation of a full-time coaching position to provide training to numerous schools in the local area.
Thanks to the continued support of Avara Foods (formerly Sun Valley), over 20,000 children have received coaching through our programme. Alongside rugby, the project now offers a variety of other sports, providing children with a well-rounded selection of sporting activities to engage in. The primary focus of the programme is to ensure that all children have the opportunity to learn and participate in sports, while also emphasising the importance of maintaining physical health and its impact on other areas of their lives.
The importance of sports in schools:
At Luctonians, we recognise the significant impact that sports can have on an individual’s life. We believe it is important for both children and adults to engage in sporting activities, and we are committed to reducing the barriers that may prevent participation. Additionally, we understand the value of the skills that can be developed through sports, viewing them as stepping stones for the future. Skills such as teamwork, communication, leadership, and engagement are all essential and transferable to other areas of life.
We advocate for the numerous benefits that participating in sports can provide. These benefits include staying fit and healthy, understanding the limitations of one’s body, maintaining an active lifestyle, using sports as a way to relieve stress, and reducing the risk of health conditions later in life.
Our community coaches collaborate with our partner schools to ensure that all children in our program benefit from both the physical and non-physical advantages of sports. We are also dedicated to helping every child learn new skills and try sports that they may not have had the opportunity to enjoy before.
Testimony from Parent—
“Just wanted to sent an email to say; Thank you!
It was such a wonderful opportunity to come and see the school in action on sports day!
As parents we hear from Elliot’s about the values and you keep us informed through updates on the website and the newsletter but to see it first hand was really special.
The event was well planned and organised, full of fun and the children were all encouraging one another no matter what.
Special thanks to Aiden. Elliot talks highly of him and it really showed on the day as they all listened and we’re encouraged by him too.”
Meet Our Coaches
Aiden Cheshire – Community Coaching Programme Lead
Aiden is our Community Coaching Lead with years of coaching experience within grassroots sports and the local community. He has worked with children of all ages and is passionate about making sport accessible for all. If you are familiar with Luctonians Senior Rugby Squad, you will recognise him from our 1st XV.
As the programme leader Aiden arranges all of our coaching provisions and school offerings. He also coaches in a number of our schools and is a coach for Luctonians Colts Team.
Fun Facts about Aiden:
Favourite Sport – Rugby
Favourite Sporting Moment – Watching the hard work that my Colts put into winning the North Midlands Cup.
Favourite Sport to Coach – Basketball
What’s your favourite thing about Coaching? Being part of the development process for children to excel and have fun in sports.
Phoebe Bright-Bowen
Favourite Sport – Rugby
Favourite Sporting Moment – winning at Aber Rugby 7’s
Favourite Sport to Coach – netball
What’s your favourite thing about Coaching? Helping someone improve their skills and become better at their chosen sport
Patrick Fotheringham
Favourite Sport – Tag Rugby, Football, Netball, Cycling
Favourite Sporting Moment – Mark Cavendish winning the world championships
Favourite Sport to Coach – Netball
What’s your favourite thing about Coaching? Helping people improve and learn and the satisfaction of seeing them do something they couldn’t before
Sarah Lamonby
What they Coach: A variety of sports but mainly rugby and tag rugby
Favourite Sport: Rugby
Favourite Sporting Moment: having both of my daughters watch me play rugby for the first time
Favourite Sport to Coach: Rugby
What’s your favourite thing about Coaching: I love unlocking a sporting talent for those children that have not yet found their favourite sport. Sport really is for all and that’s a pretty special thing.
Testimony: Burghill Community Academy
“Our TAs were full of praise for Sarah yesterday so I thought I’d pass it up the line!
They said she worked everyone well, pushing the more able but also finding time to support and cheer on those who found it more difficult.”
What does our programme involve:
We believe it is important to provide a well-rounded school programme so in addition to our rugby coaching, we can provide coaches for many other sports, such as netball, cricket, hockey, rounders, gymnastics, dance and many more!
Our coaches not only teach the skills set to partake in these sports but also use other tools to show children how they can learn and develop from their skills. We work alongside our teachers and schools to align our programme with the school curriculum and school values.
We offer curriculum-based PE for schools, as well as after-school activities and clubs. Our services align with the school’s schedule, and we include a yearly TAG Rugby Festival in the school calendar, inviting all primary schools to participate.
We currently have coaches in the majority of primary schools and many of the high schools around the local community.
Testimony — St Michaels — Bodenham
“Thank you for organising Phoebe to come both days, she was absolutely fantastic yesterday and we are so pleased”
Luctonians Tag Fest
Here at Luctonians we host an annual Tag Rugby Fest as part of our Avara Foods Community Coaching Programme. The festival is a celebration of the club’s efforts to introduce children to rugby through various forms of the game, including tag, touch, and full rugby. In 2008, the Luctonians Tag Rugby Fest set a Guinness World Record for the largest schools tournament of its kind. Every year we invite local school children to join us for the annual competition, the TAG Festival started in 2003 after England won the Rugby World Cup.
Luctonians would like to thank Avara Foods for their continued support of our Community Outreach Programme