Worcester-based express delivery giant TNT is teaming up with children's charity, Wooden Spoon, and leading rugby clubs across the country to convert cash donations into life-changing opportunities for youngsters and teenagers alike.
The company, with its depot on the Hartlebury Trading Estate - is the biggest benefactor of the charity that has improved the quality of life for thousands of children who are disadvantaged mentally, physically and socially.
Having generated well over £2 million for Wooden Spoon, TNT's funding is now providing the foundations for a groundbreaking initiative that uses the sport of rugby to help children and young adults overcome adversity in their lives.
Entitled 'Spoon Community Rugby' (SCR), the programme is delivering training courses designed to tackle a number of emotive issues including child obesity, criminal behaviour among youths and bullying in schools. Other aspects of the programme give young people the chance to achieve academic qualifications and benefit from expert tuition in the fields of physical training, life skills and first aid.
TNT's charitable donations are underpinning SCR and helping Wooden Spoon establish working partnerships with rugby's governing bodies in the UK and a host of leading clubs across the country including running a project in with Worcester Warriors RFC. The pilot with the Guinness Premiership outfit is specially designed to use rugby to improve the prospects of children from both rural and inner-city areas of Worcestershire.
Stuart Stobie, Divisional Managing Director of TNT Express UK said he was delighted that the money generated by TNT employees was fundamental to the overall success of Spoon Community Rugby.
He said: "Rugby is a sport that places an emphasis on discipline, skill and an inherent sense of fair play. By taking these factors on board the young people are learning and appreciating elements they can apply in their own lives and help make a better future for themselves.
"The passion and commitment of all involved is clear to see and we are both proud and privileged to be able to provide the foundations for Spoon Community Rugby."
Chris Gill, Chief Executive of Wooden Spoon, said: "The launch of Spoon Community Rugby has added a new dimension to targeting social issues affecting young people in the UK. So far we have seen over 20,000 complete the many differing programmes tackling childhood obesity, anti social behaviour, exclusion from education, employment issues and crime."
Spoon Community Rugby was top of the agenda at a special showcase event at the Houses of Parliament when TNT's Stuart Stobie teamed up with British Lions rugby legend, Jason Leonard. Jason, now retired from the game, is Wooden Spoon's Lead Ambassador helping to raise the profile of the charity, and both he and Stuart delivered compelling speeches supporting the innovative programme.