The global COVID-19 pandemic has created a very uncertain landscape for grassroots sports clubs which is going to make it very challenging for them to survive - and like many others, Upminster Rugby Club has suffered during this ongoing situation. Our 500 mini and youth players from the age of 5 through to the age of 18 and our 120 senior players have had a disrupted season and this has caused for the club's revenue streams to have been severely restricted.

With our usual revenue streams negatively affected, we are reaching out for your support to help us move forward with 3 capital projects - which in the long term will help us continue to thrive, grow, and work with and for our members plus the wider community we serve for many years to come. These projects include;

(1) Extending the clubhouse to provide accessible and unisex changing and functional facilities. This would see the removal of the green containers to better support a wider group of people who utilise the clubhouse facilities (rugby, football & other community groups) and better allow the club to run community events such as fun days.

(2) Extend and renovate the tight and ageing kitchen facilities to better support the larger building and the 500 mini and youth players, their families, three senior teams and our other community partners.

(3) Creation of an additional function bar and balcony area in the current loft to provide an additional private hire facility for the club and the Upminster community.

Upminster Rugby Club is seeking to raise £30,000 from our members, supporters and the wider community to help restart these plans. In addition, the club will seek to apply for 'match funding' from Sport England to help move these exciting projects forward with a ambition of being operational from September 2021.

Who we are & What we do....

In July 1964, Upminster RFC was established by the Upminster community, we now boast 500 mini and youth players (aged 5-18) and close to 120 senior playing members and Upminster RFC is a true community club in every sense of the word.

We have fantastic grounds, which allow us to run a wide programme of activities for all ages and abilities, as well as hosting fundraising events, which attract thousands of people to the club. The club supports the wider community through the availability of its facilities for other grassroots sports, private functions and local businesses. The three projects will provide improved toilet, catering and functional facilities to provide a flagship venue for Upminster.

The club is supported by a dedicated and diverse group of volunteers from coaches, first aiders, managers & safeguarding experts and the club regularly invests in training for these volunteers to ensure that Upminster Rugby Club provides a safe, fun and enriching service for its players and members. We foster a strong ethos of respect amongst our members and volunteers, and this forms an important part of the activities we do and the people and organisations we work with.

We are aiming to continue the steady growth of the girls section by offering a pathway for them to participate and compete in a dedicated women's team. In the summer months we run a touch rugby programme for our members and the wider community. Touch rugby provides many physical benefits and is open to all ages and abilities. We are also very proud of the work we have been doing within the community with local schools, the RFU 'Inner Warrior' programme and 'This Girl Can' campaign, whose aim is to promote rugby values, and increase the amount of rugby and physical activity in Britain’s schools.

The teams are inclusive of all skill sets and age grades – actively encouraging non-members to join us, welcoming people into the club to enjoy our facilities, and our social and fundraising events.

The club looks to cater for all and create a vibrant community that will fit into the wider Upminster RFC family. As time moves forward and we begin to return to 'normal times', we at Upminster RFC, are looking to become one of the flagship venues for private hire events in the community, as well as providing local leisure facilities to cater for all the family with the impending removal of the mini golf course, just a short walk along Hall Lane. The club will be funding and installing a defibrillator outside the clubhouse which can be used by members of the community should the need arise.

But now we really need YOUR support…

The pandemic has been a tough period for all in our community. The pandemic saw the suspension of all activities at the club which has seen the loss of all income generally provided from bar and catering revenue generated on match days, social events and the hire of our facilities. The pandemic has also taken away some of our biggest fundraising events:- The Ladies Day 'Afternoon Tea & Unlimited Prosecco', our annual memorial match in association with Cancer Research and our annual end of season Mini & Youth awards day.

We therefore ask you to please, PLEASE give generously to continue the progression of Upminster RFC now and in the future in its objectives to provide great services to our members and the wider community.

Help Upminster RFC get back on the UP!