What service does the charity offer the local community and who does the charity help?

Strathmore Community Rugby Trust uses rugby as a tool to support people of all ages in our local community. We run a range of programmes that focus on physical activity, mental wellbeing, confidence building and social connection.

We help a wide variety of people, including:

• Children and young people – through school programmes, holiday camps and community rugby sessions.
• People with additional support needs – including our Unified Rugby team, The Strathie Clan, which gives players a fun, welcoming place to belong.
• Families – by offering inclusive events and activities that encourage healthy lifestyles.
• Adults in the community – through wellbeing projects, walking rugby, and opportunities to volunteer or reconnect with sport.

Our aim is simple: to make sure rugby — and all the benefits that come with it — is accessible to everyone, no matter their background, age or ability.

We currently have 9 projects and our participant age range is currently 2-93!

1. Rugby Academy (11–21 years)
   Our original project, Rugby Academy, is for secondary aged young people from Forfar, Kirriemuir and Brechin.  It combines physical activity with personal development. It runs on Friday afternoons and helps young people grow as rugby players and as individuals. Participants can gain vocational qualifications such as coaching, refereeing, and first aid, and we provide opportunities to volunteer or work across other Trust projects.
2. Autism-Friendly Rugby (Primary School)
   A programme for primary school children with, or undergoing, an Autism diagnosis. Sessions provide a safe, structured environment to develop physical, social, and emotional skills. Siblings are welcome, and the programme also offers weekly respite and a support network for parents and carers.
3. Rugby Connect (Secondary School)
   A targeted programme for pupils who struggle to engage at school. Using rugby, we help students gain academic and vocational qualifications, build confidence, and stay on track with their education. Currently delivered at Brechin High School.
4. Youth Unified Rugby (Secondary School)
   This inclusive touch rugby programme brings together young people with additional support needs and able-bodied peers. It creates a welcoming environment and provides a pathway from Autism-Friendly Rugby to adult Unified Rugby (The Strathie Clan).
5. Unified Rugby – The Strathie Clan (Adults)
   An adult team mixing players with additional support needs and able-bodied “enablers.” The focus is on fun, confidence, social skills, and breaking down barriers for people with invisible or visible conditions.
6. Walking Rugby (Adults & Older People)
   A slower, non-contact version of rugby for anyone recovering from illness, retired players, or older people who want to stay active. Sessions promote fitness, social connection, and a relaxed, fun atmosphere.
7. Strathie Pups (Ages 2–5)
   Weekly sessions for pre-school children to develop movement skills, social confidence, and rugby values. These sessions also provide a pathway into the junior Strathmore Rugby Club teams.
8. Sporting Memories (Older Adults)
   This project supports older adults, especially those experiencing dementia, depression, or loneliness. Participants reminisce about sporting memories, engage in suitable physical activities, and connect socially to improve mental and physical wellbeing.
9. TryZone Projects (Primary and Secondary)
   After-school sessions run in partnership with Strathmore Cricket Club, Youth Workers, and Active Schools. TryZone provides a safe space for young people to take part in sports activities, try new sports, and enjoy ones they already love. There’s free food, plus coached sessions in the fitness suite, making it a fun, supportive environment for all.  These sessions run in Forfar Community Campus, Langlands PS, Strathmore PS and Whitehills PS.

Additional Offering:
We also deliver Autism-Friendly Sport training for other organisations, helping them run inclusive sessions in their communities.

What positive impact is the charity making in the local community?

Strathmore Community Rugby Trust makes a big difference for people of all ages in our local community. Some of the key impacts include:

1. Physical Health: We help children, young people, adults, and older adults stay active, healthy, and fit through rugby and other sport-based activities.
2. Mental Wellbeing: Our programmes support confidence, resilience, and social skills, and reduce isolation for participants, including older adults and people with additional support needs.
3. Inclusion and Social Connection: Projects like Unified Rugby and Youth Unified Rugby bring together people with and without additional support needs, breaking down barriers and encouraging friendships across generations.
4. Opportunities for Young People: Through the Rugby Academy and other programmes, young people gain life skills, vocational qualifications, and volunteering experience, helping them with education, work, and personal development.
5. Family and Community Support: Many of our programmes provide respite for parents, create safe spaces for young people, and build strong networks of support for families in the area.
6. Lifelong Engagement: With participants ranging from ages 2 to 93, we create pathways for everyone to get involved in sport, from Strathie Pups through to Walking Rugby and Sporting Memories, encouraging active lifestyles for life.

In short: We’re not just about rugby — we’re helping people connect, grow, and enjoy a healthier, happier life while building a stronger, more inclusive community.

What local impact could you make with £3,000?

All of our sessions (except Strathie Pups) are free to attend because we want to reduce barriers to participation. We rely on grant funding, donations, sponsorship, and local fundraising to cover costs. £3,000 would help pay for staffing, facility hire, and equipment, keeping our projects running and ensuring more children, young people, and adults can take part, stay active, and have fun.

What is the charity’s budget?

To cover all our costs this financial year, Strathmore Community Rugby Trust needs to raise around £250,000. This covers things like staffing, facility hire, equipment, insurance, website hosting and maintenance fees, marketing, accountants, staff training, and transport.

We rely on grant funding, donations, sponsorship, and local fundraising to meet this target. This allows us to keep all our sessions (except Strathie Pups) free to attend, so everyone in the community can take part.

How are we funded and what is our biggest expenditure?

Strathmore Community Rugby Trust is funded through a variety of sources to help maintain financial sustainability:

• Grant funders – around 75% of our income
• Sponsors
• Donations
• Fundraising events
• Individual funders
• Strathie Pups fees and our Autism-Friendly Sport course also contribute to our income

Our biggest expenditure is staff costs followed by facility hire, which are essential to deliver safe, high-quality sessions for the community.

The news page on our website gives you examples of some some of the people and organisations who support us – https://www.strathmoretrust.co.uk/news/.