Rugby brand Canterbury has today announced the launch of Future Fund – a grant set up to financially support female grass roots players and help increase participation levels across the UK.
Following research by Women In Sport which showed that more than one million girls in the UK lose interest in sport as a teenager and, as a result of the pandemic, had more mental health worries than boys, Canterbury is making £10,000 available to encourage new players to the sport and support those already involved.
Players, coaches, supporters and grass roots clubs are all encouraged to submit applications to the fund, demonstrating how they are taking clear action to support and grow the women’s game. As well as financial support, the grant will also support successful applicants with kit and equipment to help players to take the first step into the world of rugby.
Interested parties should email marketing@canterbury.com or follow the simple steps to apply at Canterbury.com. The window for applications will close on June 30th and the distribution of the fund will be announced in July.
The Future Fund is the latest initiative from Canterbury to support and grow the women’s game following the release of a mini-film documentary series, which featured six of the most inspiring women in the game. Titled Changing The Game, the films, which were released throughout March, focused on female players who have broken down different barriers – including disability, sexism and racism – to play the game they love.
Canterbury has also helped to get more than 4,000 young girls in Ireland playing rugby through its partnership with the IRFU and its Give It A Try programme. In addition, it is also helping promising female players to chase their dreams and maximise their potential through a partnership with SportsAid which sees them offer financial and kit support, as well as mentoring opportunities.
Jack Richardson, Vice President of Canterbury, said: “After yet another weekend of record-breaking attendances at Women’s Six Nations matches, we are delighted to announce the launch of our Future Fund today.
“After hearing some of the inspirational stories from our Changing The Game series, we wanted to ensure there’s help and support available for the next generation of female players who are coming through the ranks and encourage anybody who was inspired by the films or the current Women’s Six Nations to pick up a rugby ball and give the game a go.
“The research from Women In Sport around participation in sports was alarming but we know from our own work that taking part in rugby can have a positive effect on mental wellbeing, as well as social skills and teamwork. The growing popularity of women’s rugby is there for all to see and it is crucial that the rugby world unites and uses this momentum to get more and more girls playing rugby.
“We support Women In Sport’s calls for sport, leisure and education sectors to keep girls engaged in sport and the launch of the Future Fund is the latest demonstration of our commitment to women’s rugby.”