THREE rugby clubs have joined together to provide sessions for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
While the Witney Wolves have been running for 15 years, providing a special needs tag rugby team, they have been joined more recently by both Gosford All Blacks, and Wallingford.
The clubs have joined together to create a SEND support initiative, working with Active Oxfordshire and the support of the Oxfordshire RFU, to offer an inclusive session.
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Darren Rea, youth chair at Gosford All Blacks, co-founded the initiative with Wallingford Wolves’ John Peel, and Jessica Harrison from Active Oxfordshire.
Gosford All Blacks began offering SEND-friendly sessions for children aged between four and 17 in March, with those proving to be a rip-roaring success.
Rea said: “We are really excited to see the difference this provision is offering and can’t express enough the impact and difference the ability to offer this inclusion makes.
“Seeing the confidence and enjoyment everyone is getting, and hearing parents highlight that this is a community that they feel part of, and is thriving, is humbling.
“While as clubs we have our individual groups, we’ve become firm friends and are growing a network to share information and experiences, accumulating in better provision for the children taking part.”
The three clubs are in the process of arranging a SEND rugby festival in May, with more details to follow.
In the meantime, free taster sessions are available at all three clubs.
Gosford All Blacks are offering sessions for children aged four and above on Sundays between 10am and 11am. Email youth@gosfordrugby.com for more.
The sessions at Wallingford Wolves run from 11am to 12pm on Sundays, with Jo Purkess-Beckett available on jopurkessbeckett@gmail.com
Witney Wolves are also providing sessions on Sundays between 11am and 12pm, for children aged eight and above, with Theresa Clark contactable via theresaclark1234@aol.com
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