I hope this message finds you well and that you and your children are enjoying the current rugby season. As we approach the final weeks, I wanted to share some exciting updates and news with you.

Since taking over as Youth Chair in December 2022, we've made significant progress. Our youth section has seen tremendous growth, with player numbers increasing across all age groups. Notably, our U14s have doubled their numbers from last season. We've managed to maintain consistent mid-week training sessions, with cancellations only occurring when absolutely necessary due to weather conditions.

Folkestone Rugby Club has also been a hub of activity, hosting a very successful Kent U9’s Festival and welcoming the Richford & Hundred Touring side last weekend. In the coming weeks, we will host the Kent U14’s 7’s Festival, culminating in a two-day festival for age groups from U7’s to U15s. Our social media presence has flourished, thanks to Maddy from the ladies' team. One recent video from the U12’s garnered over 15,000 views across our channels!

While our progress has been fantastic, anyone who knows me will attest that I am always looking for ways to advance further. Our commitment to providing the best platform for our children to learn, develop, and enjoy rugby is unwavering. To ensure we continue to improve, I am thrilled to share some exciting news with you.

Many of you are familiar with Leigh Fitchie-Andrews, formerly the 1st team head coach and currently one of our U6/7s coaches. I am delighted to announce that Fitchie has agreed to take on the role of Junior Director of Rugby. In this new role, Fitchie will focus on enhancing our coaching provision within the youth setup, developing both our coaches and players, and embedding a strong club ethos into the youth section. Please join me in thanking Fitchie for stepping into this crucial role.

As part of his new role, Fitchie will be launching a new team called Little Ruckers for 4-6 year olds starting in September. This initiative will allow us to introduce rugby to a younger age group, further expanding our club's reach and impact.

In addition to Fitchie's new role, I am excited to announce the formation of our first Youth Committee. Currently, new initiatives have been led by myself with help from others, but this approach is not sustainable. With a dedicated committee of volunteers, I believe we can take the club on an exciting journey.

Joining Fitchie and myself on the Youth Committee are:

Eve Hall – Youth Treasurer
Eve Gardner – Mini’s Fixture Secretary
Elz Cole – Youth Fixture Secretary
We also have several volunteer positions we need to fill to continue our growth. These roles are designed to distribute responsibility and ensure no one is overburdened. The committee will meet every 4-6 weeks. Here are the initial roles we aim to fill:

Parent Rep Administrator – Recruit and integrate new parent reps, be the voice of parent reps at the committee, and support current parent reps.
Marketing/Fundraising – Assist in sponsorship opportunities, identify potential grants, and organize fundraising events for the youth section.
Social Events Coordinator – Arrange social events at the club, including possible club away days.
Tour Committee – Organize a tour for the minis and youth teams in 2025.
Rugby Safe Administrator – Ensure compliance with HeadCase protocols, record injuries or concussions, and share appropriate guidelines with players' parents, age groups, and schools.
General Committee Member – Provide assistance as needed and offer constructive feedback at meetings.
We have also appointed a Safeguarding Assistant to help our Safeguarding Lead, Stephen Weller, with processing DBS applications. Please welcome Kayla, currently our U13 Parent Rep, to this role.

If you're interested in discussing any of these roles or have any other concerns, please reach out to me at the email below or call me at 07956772898.

Together, let's continue to build a strong, supportive, and successful rugby community for our children!