When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and the country was put into lockdown, we were aware that it would be the poorest and most vulnerable in our community who would be most at risk of not being able to support themselves.

With schools having to shut as well as most businesses and sport clubs, we started planning how we could help our local community in these unprecedented times.

Throughout lockdown we worked exceptionally hard to be there for our Richmond family and our local region by providing extensive support for those in need across our Borough. Our Community Department and our wonderful team of more than 70 club volunteers were outstanding, displaying the true Richmond spirit and determination to work through any challenge together.

From the start of lockdown our Community Team were at the forefront of supporting our club family. They helped our members and supporters with their grocery orders, picking up essential items such as medicine and even walking their dogs.

FOOD AND SECOND HAND TECH COLLECTION POINTS

As the months progressed and the first lockdown slowly eased, we joined forces with AFC Wimbledon's 'Dons Local Action Group' to ensure thousands of vulnerable residents across our community received essential goods and support. Initially we set up a food and second-hand tech collection point every Saturday at the Richmond Athletic Ground. The food and tech was collected at the club and then delivered to those most at need throughout SW London. Our estimates are that during this period we collected nearly 30 pieces of second hand tech such as laptops and tablets, baby items, second hand toys, cots, as well as nappies and baby toiletries. We also believe we collected enough food at the club to potentially feed 25/30 families per week.

From late May 2020, we expanded our relationship with the 'Dons Local Action Group' by running a daily food drop-off point outside Tesco Extra in Twickenham. Our club volunteers were at the store between 8am-5pm from Monday-Saturday and 11am-5pm on Sundays. The food items we collected included non-perishables, tinned meat, tinned vegetables, tinned fruit, rice, pasta sauces and cereals. More than 50 people from the club and the local area helped out, including Chairman John Heaton, President Chris Mills, Director of Rugby Steve Hill and Head of Medical Michelle Cuthbert.

SUMMER MEALS INITIATIVE

On Wednesday 1st July 2020, we launched our ground-breaking Richmond Rugby 'Summer Meals Initiative', to supply local school children in need with a daily nutritional meal over the summer school holidays. We spoke to a number of our club partner schools and together recognised the need for vulnerable children to continue to receive a nutritional cooked meal throughout the summer months for positive physical and mental wellbeing.

From mid-July until schools returned in September, our catering team at the Athletic Ground cooked daily meals, Monday to Friday, for up to 40 local school children who had been identified throughout our community. This project was proudly supported by our club partner schools, in particular Grey Court School, with the help and assistance from the Ham Youth Club Richmond.

HALF-TERM & CHRISTMAS MEALS INITIATIVE

We took the decision the Friday before half-term to set up our food delivery service as we did in the summer. At the beginning of the week we were delivering 45 free meals per day to local children. The number had jumped to just under 100 meals by the Friday.

We also secured funding to run the food service again over the Christmas holidays, from Monday 21st December to Thursday 31st January 2020. Our volunteers worked extremely hard throughout the festive period to support families and their children who were most at need. This also included delivering meals to local children and families on Christmas Day.

TECH FOR STUDENTS

With schools closing once again and children having to be educated at home during lockdown, Richmond Rugby launched our 'Tech For Students' initiative from January to early March 2021.

The project had one goal, to help bridge the digital divide found throughout our community and to support local students and their families with their education.

Initially, the club set up a tech collection point at the Athletic Ground on Saturday's and then later in Chiswick, working alongside local Councillor’s Ron Mushiso and Vickram Grewal.

The donated laptops and tablets were then sent to project partner Veritas Digital Services to be professionally wiped clean and refurbished before being distributed to local schools by club volunteers.

From January to early March, the project received more than 1,000 donations of second-hand tech, with the refurbished devices delivered to over 50 local schools throughout our borough.

PROJECT STATS

Total days in operation: 65
Devices collected: 1,000+ donations
Schools received tech: 50+ local schools

PROJECT VIDEO

Click here to watch our campaign video.

Previous Head of Community Dom Palacio said: “We were amazed by the generosity of our community during such challenging times. We would like to thank our project partner Veritas Digital Services for their incredible support and swiftness in refurbishing the devices. Our thanks must also go to club partner Community Group for their backing and support, Councillor’s Ron Mushiso and Vickram Grewal for collecting tech throughout Chiswick, and finally to our wonderful volunteers who gave up so much time to help deliver this project.”

MORE INFORMATION:

Contact our Community Department: communitydept@richmondfc.co.uk

WITH THANKS TO:

Community Group: www.community-group.co.uk