Changing lives
We fund life-changing projects across the UK and Ireland,
using the power of rugby to support children with
disabilities or facing disadvantage
Wooden Spoon is the children’s
charity of rugby.
We fund life-changing projects across the
UK and Ireland that support children and
young people with disabilities or living in
disadvantage.
We are a national charity with a strong
local footprint. Our unique funding structure
enables us to spend every penny that our
volunteers raise in their local area on projects
locally.
Our rugby roots
Wooden Spoon is a registered charity in England and Wales
(Reg No: 326691) and in Scotland (Reg No: SC039247)
woodenspoon.org.uk
#helpingkidsthroughrugby
Wooden Spoon was founded in 1983 after
a disappointing performance by England
during the 1983 Five Nations Rugby
Championship, finishing at the bottom of
the tournament table with a 25-15 defeat to
Ireland.
Five England supporters seeking solace in
a Dublin bar were presented with a wooden
spoon, wrapped in an Irish scarf, on a silver
platter.
Accepting the gift with good humour and
grace, the group resolved to hold a golf match
to see who would have the honour of keeping
the tongue-in-cheek gift. Just a few months
later, the event raised more than £8,500, and
the money funded a new minibus for a local
special needs school.
As a result, Wooden Spoon was born
and we have been supporting children with
disabilities and facing disadvantage ever
since. Our rugby heritage continues to
drive our core values of Passion, Integrity,
Teamwork and Fun.
Why we need your help
Our vision is that through the power of
rugby every child and young person, no
matter what their background has access to
the same opportunities.
However, there are currently 7% of children
living with a disability and 30% of children
living in poverty in the UK and Ireland. This
can lead to reduced life opportunities, less
access to play, learning and sport facilities
and reduced self-confidence.
In the last reported year, the charity
funded projects that helped 115,000 children
and their families, working with the rugby
community but there is still so much more that
we can do. These projects include sensory
rooms, playground and outdoor activities,
education projects and specialist equipment.
Three world records
This year Wooden Spoon volunteers have
really gone the extra mile to help others by
completing two gruelling challenges. In April
this year our LMAX Exchange Everest rugby
challengers risked life and limb to raise an
amazing amount of money whilst setting
world records for the highest games of rugby
played up Mount Everest.
In August this year, during one of the
hottest bank holiday weekends, our Wooden
Spoon rugby team went head to head with
The School of Hard knocks to break another
world record for the longest match of rugby
union. They played for 30.5 hours.
Visit woodenspoon.org.uk to find out
more.
www.rugbyclubmag.com
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