Work at Long Buckby RFC is now underway as the local club were selected as winners of Northampton Saints’ Clubhouse Renovation Competition.
The competition invited grassroots clubs to apply for the chance to win a revamp of their facilities, as part of the fantastic work carried out by Volunteer It Yourself (VIY), and supported by Northampton Saints, Toolstation, Travis Perkins and Sport England.
VIY, the social enterprise that helps young people learn trade skills whilst renovating vital community spaces, have been joined throughout the works by Northampton Saints Foundation students (who are taking part in the Foundation’s Hitz and Aspire programmes) as well as local college students on construction courses.
They’ve been painting and decorating the changing rooms and adding individual changing slots at the club on Station Road, resulting in 19 young volunteers gaining Entry Level 3 City & Guilds accreditations in Painting & Decorating and Carpentry.
“The Clubhouse Renovation Competition is an excellent example of our partnership in action, helping to support our local clubs and communities, as well as supporting activity across the grassroots level,” said Connor Fleming, Head of Community at Northampton Saints.
“Projects like this help make rugby more accessible for everyone, using the power of sport to positively impact a wide range of groups and individuals.”
Connor Fleming, Saints’ Head of Community
Ed Sellwood, COO and co-founder of VIY, added: “We've completed over 700 community projects since 2011, many of which have been improving grassroots sports clubs and facilities for the benefit of the local community, and all helping boost the work-readiness of the young people who volunteer with us.
“Collaborating with cross-sector partners, from sports to construction like Saints and Toolstation, help us all do more to build better communities and help improve more young lives together.”
The volunteers were also joined by current Northampton Saints player, James Grayson, as well as Club legend Tom Wood – both Foundation ambassadors – who both helped the students with their work at the venue.
The project is due to be completed over the next week with the updated facilities being put into use for the first time at Long Buckby RFC’s next home fixture.
“It’s great to be able to do some practical activities with the young people out of the classroom, and particularly in the surroundings of a local rugby club,” said Wood.
“I have been lucky in that rugby has given me a great deal, so getting involved in projects like this one give me the opportunity to give something back, not just to the students, but also the wider community.”
Tom Wood
Greg Richardson, Head of Marketing at Toolstation, added: “We’re really happy to have supported the VIY team and Long Buckby with the renovation of their facilities, which will ultimately help build a better community.
“This is a project that will help young people learn practical trade and building skills and earn a qualification. The construction sector is facing a shortage of workers, and so we hope that this initiative will inspire the next generation of young people to consider entering the trades.”
