A brief summary on the progress of the clubs junior section. As many of you will be aware the rebuilding of the clubs junior section is near total and begun three seasons ago, as pat of a ten year plan, with little to no infrastructure in place at the time.

1. Children's numbers: Now exceed 100 ranging from under 6's to under 15's. Whilst small in comparison to surrounding clubs the numbers have tripled in three seasons and continues to grow.

2. Coaches: Twelve coaches. Four are RFU level 2 qualified, Five level 1 and the remainder rugby ready with a view to completing level 1 or 2 courses. Near all have attended additional CPD sessions including the RFU safeguarding 'play it safe' course. Currently the majority of our coaches are attending two RFU CPD sessions that were organised by the MMY committee and are being delivered at the clubs grounds. These are 'Ruck and maul' and 'Back attack'. We remain committed to developing our coaches so that we develop the next generation of Barking players to the best of our ability. As a result in the past year we have spent in excess of £500 on coaching courses alone.

3. Membership: At last report the junior section had bought in more membership than the remainder of the club collectively, emphasising it's importance to the sustainability of the club's future.

4. Infrastructure. In addition to the above the junior section has invested into two event shelters, a portable bluetooth PA system and various rugby related equipment. In addition through the Sainsbury's active kids vouchers scheme numerous pieces of rugby and sports related equipment has been purchased that is used regularly in training as well as school holiday sports camps.

5. Events. The firework night and end of season presentation continue to grow and along with the club shop and mini/midi/youth home fixtures generate a sustainable income that has funded all of the above as well as helping generate the club an income across the bar.

6. The MMY committee. Has grown with committed voluntary parents and includes roles of MMY Chairman, Secretary, Events manager, club coach coordinator, fixtures secretary, treasurer and Club Safeguarding Officer (CSO). Karen Roberts (CSO) through working with the RFU safeguarding team and RFU DBS system ensures we provide an up to date safe environment and safe coaching to children entrusted in our care. In addition a sub 'Grants Committee' has recently been formed between junior and senior members of the club that recently resulted in it's first successful grants application (Natwest Rugby Force). We hope that more significant grants will follow.

7. Culture/ethos. It is well known that the London borough of Barking and Dagenham as a social demographic faces health, education and crime challenges. As a junior section we aim to install the five rugby core values or Respect, Discipline, Teamwork, Sportsmanship and Enjoyment and encourage our children to aspire. Through this we hope our players will become more socially rounded and make better life choices.

8. Looking ahead. We aim to continue to increase our numbers and develop our coaches. We have organised with our Essex RFU Rugby Development Officer (RDO) to run school too club transition events at the start of next season. If successful this will mean that the club will field teams in every age group from U6's through to U15's. We are also planning first aid training for all willing adults.

We hope as a MMY committee we are serving the club well and helping make the club a happy and sustainable place to be.

PTBB,

Trevor Keys
Barking RFC MMY Coordinator.