During the first 5 weeks of the year, over 75 members of the Saracens Senior, Academy, and coaching team participated in our Monday night Disability sessions getting stuck in with our projects. It was fantastic to see them immersing themselves in our projects and gaining a better understanding of the impact the Foundation’s 32 projects are having within our local community.
Our projects aim to improve health, education and employability for beneficiaries across Hertfordshire and North London. The Monday night sessions offered Saracens players and coaching team the opportunity to participate in three of these projects: Sarries RFC, Sarrie’s Skills Club, and Strictly Sarrie.
Sarries RFC is our disability rugby club for young people aged 16 to 24. The programme aims to use rugby as a tool for change by providing our participants with the opportunity to exercise regularly and develop their social skills. During the Monday night visits, players and coaching staff had a run around with our participants and shared their skills and knowledge whilst getting involved with rugby drills and games alongside the Foundation’s coaches.
Sarrie’s Skills Club provides young people with severe autism the opportunity to practice fundamental movement skills, with the aim of improving their physical capabilities and basic life skills. Each participant has at least 1:1 support from our specialist staff and volunteers, who guide them through a range of multi-skill sports like Boccia and Indoor Curling. Over the 5-week period, players and coaching staff participated in games run by Foundation staff and volunteers – the parachute game was a crowd favourite!
Strictly Sarrie is our disability dance project that aims to improve the physical and mental health of young people. Participants learn basic dance techniques and routines in an engaging, interactive and inclusive environment and have had the opportunity to showcase their work by performing at venues such as Wembley and StoneX stadium. It was great to see players and training ground staff jump straight into the action and show off their best moves.
Head to our social media channels to see photos and videos from the sessions and hear from players, volunteers, and our CEO Lucy Wray!
We are always looking for more volunteers – if you would like to get involved as a volunteer or come and see our work in action, please email foundationinfo@saracens.net.
