Ahead of the 2018/19 rugby season a new club was formed in Bath – Bath Rugby Foundation’s 1st XV Club.

Bath Rugby Foundation has been boosted by more than £100,000 after 15 firms and individuals agreed to become founder members of the new donor club.

A total of 15 companies and individuals have agreed to make an annual, substantial donation to the charity. The donation, either a payment of £7,000 or a gift in kind to the same value, has been given with the donors’ sole aim being a desire to improve the lives of vulnerable children and young people in the Bath area.

The founder members are: Apex Hotels, Chris and J Haynes, Chris and Lydia Stoner, Darwin Property Investments, HK Carnegie Beavers, Jacqui and Andy Parsons, Link FX, Mark and Melanie Barnett, Paul Baines, Royds Withy King, Queensberry Hotel, Fidelius and some businesses who would prefer to remain anonymous.

Learn more about the founder members of the 1st XV Club

It is the Bath Rugby Foundation’s ambition to grow the 1st XV Club each year, with more members seeking to meet their Corporate Social Responsibility ambitions by directly supporting young people in the Bath area.

Bath Rugby Foundation’s Corporate Fundraiser, David Trick, said: “Setting up the 1st XV Club has been a major goal at the Foundation as we seek to grow our charity to meet the need that exists here in this city and the surrounding area.

"The fact that 20% of children in Bath are living in poverty is well documented. Twerton West is in the top 10% most deprived areas in the UK and Whiteway is in the bottom 1% in the country in its provision of education and training for children and young people.

“Sadly, as the local authority is cutting youth services by 50%, Bath Rugby Foundation is needed now more than ever to bridge the gap between the poorest and most affluent areas and build a positive, supportive community in B&NES.”

In the first year donations made by 1st XV Club members will help fund four programmes covering the Foundation’s three target areas – education, inclusion and employment.

Learn more about our programmes

Click on the links below to find out more about the programmes we deliver to young people in Bath and the surrounding areas.

• Employability and Skills Development
• Education
• Disability Programmes
• Family and Community Programmes
• Project Rugby