Work has begun on the project which is set to make a huge difference to the health, economic, social and educational prospects of children and adults in one of the most deprived areas of Wales.
The project, driven by former England rugby coach and now club chairman Richard Greenwood OBE, will see the rugby club move its on and off-field facilities to the more central Tynewydd Road location with easy access to local schools and residential areas.
The new development will house the 19 community groups who currently use the clubhouse, but also, a range of other organisations who will run wide-ranging workshops to include Basic Skills coaching sessions for parents, Family Learning homework clubs, a Next Steps drop-in project to develop work-ready skills such as CV writing, interview techniques and other drop-in sessions to break down employment barriers such as health, housing, debt, benefits and food poverty.
The funding includes £490k in Welsh Government Community Facilities funding, £90k of other outside funding including a £25k WRU facilities grant and the sale of current club assets.
The move from outside the town into Rhyl centre will enable far more children to access the club’s already extensive playing opportunities and the link with Rhyl High School through a WRU school club hub officer is a critical element of the project.
The recent decision by the Welsh Government to approve funding of £490k to help the development of what will be a veritable centre of excellence for the community in South East Rhyl has been hailed as a game changer for the project to develop a community centre with social, changing and playing facilities in the centre of Rhyl.
Richard Greenwood, who was awarded an OBE in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to rugby, said, “We are absolutely delighted that Welsh Government has seen the potential that this project can bring for the wider community of Rhyl, and that the rugby club, building on its proud achievements as one of the most vibrant and far-reaching community hubs I’ve ever experienced, can continue to make a difference by working effectively with local organisations in the future.
“We are also grateful to the support that we have received from local political representatives, Denbighshire County Council, Rhyl Town Council, and our Assembly Member, Mrs Ann Jones, and the wider local community.
“The development of the project owes much to the support of the Welsh Rugby Union, who also provided additional funding; Sport Wales and WREN are also significant funders of the scheme.
“At a time of close public scrutiny of Government funding it is important to recognise that the rugby club is itself the major funder of the project in that it is investing the proceeds of the sale of its two major assets to develop a community and sporting hub of which the whole of Rhyl can be proud.”
Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children, Carl Sargeant said: “I’m pleased Welsh Government funding will play an important role in enabling Rhyl Rugby Club to deliver this project. It will provide important facilities for the club and the local community as a whole.
“The Communities Facilities Programme has had a beneficial impact on communities and the day to day lives of local people in deprived areas of Wales. The project in Rhyl is an excellent example of the positive effect the Programme can have and will bring partners together to deliver many benefits for the area. While this is the last round of awards under the current funding arrangements a revised scheme will reopen this summer.”
Tom Overton, Head of Community Sport at Sport Wales, commented:
“This really is a first class example of a community sport club taking a business approach to the way it works, and they should take huge credit for the way they have been able to pull different partners together and develop the project for the benefit of local people.
“The club is proving that they are about much more than sport. They are a vital part of the community and engaging more people in sport and activity. Now they can extend their community role to benefit even more people.”
Work has started on the pitches, initially aiming to improve the playing surface whilst also reducing the amount of surface water spilling over in to adjacent and neighbouring areas. The playing surface will be reseeded and, favourable weather permitting, should be ready for late summer 2018. It is anticipated that building work will commence on site in the early Autumn.
Gavin Roberts, Communities First Cluster Manager said, “This project will not only enable more people to get involved with the rugby club as it will be much closer to their doorstep, but it will provide a legacy even after Communities First comes to an end with the programme that has been agreed for the community centre. In line with the Government’s aim of building resilient communities, the activities offered will allow residents to become more empowered, more employable and it will also work to improve provision for the early years.”
Chris Graham, Rhyl High School PE Teacher said, “The new facilities just across the road from the school will enable so many more pupils to access regular sports activities; the work of our school club hub officer has greatly strengthened the links with the club and going forward so many more pupils will be able to try something they haven’t tried before, hopefully leading to regular participation and community engagement outside of school hours.”
