Earlier this year, we caught up with our long-term sponsor, Craignathro Farms, to learn more about their work and what inspired them to support the Trust. They are the proud sponsors of our Unified Rugby team – The Strathie Clan.

We’re incredibly grateful for their ongoing support.

If you’re interested in sponsoring one of our projects, please get in touch at info@strathmoretrust.co.uk

The future of a Strathmore Community Rugby Trust project which helps young people improve their confidence, health and community links as well as gain life, career and rugby skills has been secured for the next three years by a grant of almost £100,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund.

We’ve been awarded £99,981 over the next three years by The National Lottery Community Fund’s Young Start fund to finance our Rugby Academy programme of rugby and life skills for Angus senior school pupils. This is one of the largest packages of funding our award-winning charity has won in our eight-year history.

Previous award

The trust previously received £90,000 from the Young Start fund between 2021 and 2024 for out ‘Rugby and Beyond’ programme for engaging local young people in positive activities. As it and the longstanding Rugby Academy project we launched in August 2017 overlap on their aims, we’ve merged them under the ‘Rugby Academy’ banner and extended the top end of its age remit to 24 in response to demand and support from several funders expanding to that age.

Rugby Academy also receives funding from the Gannochy Trust and long-term sponsor Stracathro Estates.

The project was awarded new funding by The National Lottery Community Fund’s Young Start fund because it meets the three Young Start target outcomes for children and young people: 1) Improving physical, mental and emotional wellbeing; 2) Strengthening connections with the wider community as well as 3) Providing access to new skills and training opportunities which support pathways into employment or business, with young people actively involved in the project at every stage of its development and delivery.

Life, work & rugby skills

It does this in the termtime Friday afternoon sessions for young people from Forfar Academy, Brechin High School and Websters High School, Kirriemuir, by teaching them life skills as well as rugby ones at Strathmore Rugby Club (March to October) and at a local artificial pitch (November to February) in Forfar, Brechin or Kirriemuir.

On the pitch, the project engages youths through the team element of rugby – developing them both as players and people. It also aims to give them the skills and confidence to have a lifelong involvement in rugby through playing, coaching, officiating and volunteering by giving them personal development sessions alongside rugby training.

Rugby Academy also inspires possible career options by offering its participants an opportunity to gain coaching qualifications and experience in different roles as well as having talks from professionals who support the infrastructure of sport – including a nutritionist, accountant, chef and graphic designer. The project also offers paid sessional coaching jobs to some of the Rugby Academy members who excel as volunteers.

Value shown since 2017

The trust’s experience of providing this since 2017 has shown the value of engaging young people early and providing them with positive role models and peer mentors from when they begin their secondary school journey.

Mia White, who’s gone from a Rugby Academy participant in 2017 to volunteer Community Project Assistant and now full-time paid Community Project Worker at the trust, said: “Rugby Academy helped me develop a lot of my confidence and my social skills as well as my rugby skills. All of the things we’ve done have helped me become the person I am today.

“Rugby Academy also helped me get the job I’m in now, so if it wasn’t for Rugby Academy I wouldn’t be here.”

Anyone wanting to find out more or take part, should contact us by email on info@strathmoretrust.co.uk They can find out more here.

Trust Manager, Maggie Lawrie, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have received this funding from the National Lottery Community Fund through the Young Start programme. This programme supports projects which help children and young people across Scotland become more confident and play an active part in realising their potential.

“The Rugby Academy project is very much at the heart of the trust’s activities as it perfectly embodies our aim of ‘Developing People Through Rugby.’ This funding secures the project’s future for three years, placing the trust in a strong position to continue supporting our community.”

‘Vital role’

The National Lottery Community Fund, Scotland Chair, Kate Still, said: “Since its launch in 2012, Young Start has awarded more than £73.5 million to 1,254 incredible projects led by and for young people aged 8 to 24.

“Organisations such as Strathmore Community Rugby Trust play a vital role in helping young people gain new skills, build confidence and support their wellbeing. We’re delighted Young Start funding will enable them to grow and continue their important work.”

Young Start awards money from dormant bank and building society accounts that have seen no customer-initiated activity for at least 15 years. It’s run by The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland for The Scottish Government.

The trust was founded in 2017 to increase public participation in sport, particularly rugby union and rugby league, in the Forfar, Kirriemuir and Brechin areas to benefit community health and wellbeing as well as develop young people into healthy, positive members of the community through the positive ethos and values of rugby.

We work in partnership with Strathmore RFC, Brechin RFC, Scottish Rugby, Strathmore Cricket Club, Angus Council and Angus Alive and had our activities recognised at the Scottish Charity Awards with the Pioneering Project Award in 2020 for its ASD rugby for primary children project. Our Royal Patron is HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and Earl of Forfar.

To find out how to get involved or help the trust, go here

Teams from all over Scotland came together in Forfar on Sunday [Oct 5] to enjoy friendly rivalry in Strathmore Community Rugby Trust’s second Unified Rugby tournament.

Strathie’s adult unified team, known as the Strathie Clan, played host to four other ‘clans’ from the Borders, Forth Valley, Fife and Grampian in a series of 30-minute matches in a round robin format from 1pm, concluding with a presentation of medals to all who took part, food and socialising.

It was the clan’s second home tournament, sponsored by Craignathro Farms, after it held one in September last year. The team has also played in events hosted by other clans.

Unified Rugby

Unified rugby is a physical activity programme for adults which offers controlled contact rugby for both disabled people (who need to be able to walk unaided) and able-bodied people (enablers), who ‘enable’ their teammates to take part.

It aims to create a fully-inclusive, adult rugby environment and enables both those with and without additional support needs to have fun, play rugby and benefit more broadly from the game, alongside one another. Unified rugby is used as a vehicle for enhancing the lives of participants, fostering confidence and social skills, and splintering any barriers that still persist around illnesses that are not always visually apparent.

Weekly sessions

The Strathie Clan trains weekly on a Wednesday evening 6-7pm, supported by funding from Craignathro Farms, but throughout the traditional ‘off season’ regional training and matches are arranged with other ‘clans’ throughout Scotland.

For more information about joining in as a player or ‘enabler’, email info@strathmoretrust.co.uk or go to the Unified page on the trust’s website via bit.ly/SCRTUnified The trust also has a unified rugby project for secondary-age children.

Community Trust Manager, Maggie Lawrie, said: “Thanks to all the teams and our sponsors for making this another great day of rugby, fun and friendship. If you’re reading this and know someone who would benefit from taking part, or enjoy enabling, please tell them.”

Community

Matthew Steel, Director of Craignathro Farms, said: “Well done to all the teams who took part in a great day for the rugby community. We are delighted to sponsor the unified rugby project. We feel the trust’s projects help combat the mental isolation which is a feature of working and living in a rural area. Craignathro Farms is very pleased to be associated with and contributing to such a positive community project as Strathmore Community Rugby Trust.”

The trust was founded in 2017 to increase public participation in sport, particularly rugby union and rugby league, in the Forfar, Kirriemuir and Brechin areas to benefit community health and wellbeing as well as develop young people into healthy, positive members of the community through the positive ethos and values of rugby.

It works in partnership with Strathmore RFC, Brechin RFC, Scottish Rugby, Strathmore Cricket Club, Angus Council and Angus Alive and had its activities recognised at the Scottish Charity Awards with the Pioneering Project Award in 2020 for its ASD rugby for primary children project. The trust’s Royal Patron is HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and Earl of Forfar.

Strathmore Community Rugby Trust is proud to launch a new Small Grants Scheme to help remove financial barriers for those involved in our projects. Whether you’re playing, coaching, or volunteering, this initiative is here to support your journey—on and off the pitch.

Rooted in our motto, “Developing People Through Rugby,” the scheme offers targeted financial assistance to help individuals grow through sport.

What’s Available?

Application Windows

Each grant type has set application periods throughout the year, will be announced across our social media channels. In exceptional cases, applications may be considered outside these windows with prior discussion.  We are currently accepting applications for the General Kit and Equipment Grant.

For full details of the scheme and how to apply please read the PDF below.

Full grant scheme details here

Please note: Applicants must be actively participating in or volunteering with Trust projects. Funding is limited and not guaranteed.

This scheme is another step in our commitment to developing people through rugby—empowering our community and creating more opportunities for growth.

Stay tuned to our social media for updates and application reminders!

An Angus mum is running this Sunday’s London Marathon to say thank you to the Trust for how it’s helped hundreds of people including her children.

Eilidh McCartney, from Forfar, works as a physiotherapy support worker at Ninewells Hospital during the day. A qualified personal trainer and exercise referral instructor – someone who helps people referred by their GP to improve their fitness, she also leads classes in High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), Les Mills Core and Aqua at Forfar Community Campus for Angus Alive several nights a week.

Keen on sport all her life, Eilidh played rugby for many years, starting at primary school – where she played for West of Scotland in Mini Rugby. Sadly, she then had to stop when she went up to high school as there was no organised rugby for girls or women ladies rugby at that time.

Then, in the 1990s, Eilidh was able to take up the game again when ex-Scotland and British Lions player Sandy Carmichael started a ladies team at West of Scotland and Eilidh played fly-half for it and Milngavie from age 19 for a few years, including captaining the 2nd XV.

Children got involved

Now more of a rugby watcher – following Strathmore, Glasgow Warriors and Scotland – Eilidh decided to encourage her children Ishbel (19) and Ruaridh (15) to get involved in the game five years ago when she spotted the Rugby Academy rugby and life skills project for senior school pupils run by Strathmore Community Rugby Trust.

Ishbel joined the Friday afternoon sessions in 2020 and also helped with the charity’s award-winning autism-friendly rugby project for two seasons. Through the trust, she was put through the first two levels of her rugby coaching qualification as well as gaining volunteering and work experience. Ishbel now plays for the Strathmore Women’s rugby team.

Ruaridh joined the Rugby Academy project in August 2021 and through it has gained confidence and learned teamworking skills on a challenging assault course last Summer.

Natural

So when Eilidh discovered her “whim” application for this year’s London Marathon had been accepted, she felt it was only natural she do it in aid of the trust.

On her JustGiving fundraising page, Eilidh says: “What makes this journey even more special is my decision to run in aid of Strathmore Community Rugby Trust, an organisation deeply connected to my family and our shared love of sport.

“Rugby has always been a passion of mine and I’m thrilled that my son and daughter are carrying on that enthusiasm as active participants in the trust’s work.

Crucial role

“Strathmore Community Rugby Trust not only supports their development in the game but also plays a crucial role in empowering our local community through resources, support, and opportunities for people of all ages.

“Having my family cheering me on and feeling the strength of running for something bigger than myself has brought an incredible energy to this journey. I feel truly privileged to take part in this iconic event and can’t wait to make every mile count – for myself, for Strathmore Community Rugby Trust, and for everyone supporting me along the way”

Community Trust Manager, Maggie Lawrie, said: “We’re very grateful to Eilidh for choosing to support the trust with her marathon. As a small charity, we invest time and resource into ensuring our coaches have the right knowledge and skills to support people to participate and stay involved.

Vital

“This takes time and money. Sadly, investment from previous sources is becoming more difficult to come by, so fundraisers like this play a vital role in helping us enable people of all ages to take part in our projects. Thank you Eilidh, we really appreciate your support!”

The trust was founded in 2017 to increase public participation in sport, particularly rugby union and rugby league, in the Forfar, Kirriemuir and Brechin areas to benefit community health and wellbeing as well as develop young people into healthy, positive members of the community through the positive ethos and values of rugby.

It works in partnership with Strathmore RFC, Brechin RFC, Scottish Rugby, Strathmore Cricket Club, Angus Council, Angus Alive and Stracathro Estates and had its activities recognised at the Scottish Charity Awards with the Pioneering Project Award in 2020 for its ASD rugby for primary children project. The trust’s Royal Patron is HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and Earl of Forfar.

Eilidh’s fundraising page can be found at justgiving.com/campaign/eilidhs-marathon

To donate to the trust, go here

To find out how to take part in one of its projects, go here

Strathmore Community Rugby Trust are delighted to have been selected as recipients of a £2500 donation towards the running cost of our Autism-Friendly Rugby sessions by a new charity set up to support grass roots rugby in Scotland.

Much like the Trust, Grass-roots Rugby for Everyone Awards Trust (“GREAT”) is a Charity who believe that everyone should have the opportunity to play and enjoy rugby . Their mission is to grow the number of children and adults throughout Scotland who play and support rugby at grass-roots level. They do this through awarding grants to individuals, rugby clubs, schools and charities.

By providing new opportunities for children and adults to become involved in rugby, GREAT is hoping to grow the game, bring communities back together and improve the pool of talent in schools, clubs and the professional and national teams.

More information about GREAT, including how to make a donation, can be obtained on their website, www.greatrugby.scot.

Founding Trustee Stuart Gray was presented with the cheque by GREAT Patron, Gregor Townsend, on Friday ahead of Scotland’s clash with Wales on the 8th March.

We are extremely grateful to GREAT for their support.  The funding will be put towards the facility hire costs for our Autism-Friendly Rugby sessions.