Collette’s Story

Here at tri, we take great pride in every single person involved with us, be they players, coaches or supporters on the sideline. The fact that they take pride in being with us, too, is a testament to the work we all put in and we feel it is only right to share some of the impressive stories we come across every day.

Today, Collette shares her story of growth and change with us. She takes part in the Missing Trick programme by tri, Turning Point Scotland and Glasgow Caledonian University, attending rugby sessions every week before spending time in the classroom to become more involved with further education.

 

Thanks for taking the time, Collette. So, how do you feel about the rugby programme?

I absolutely love the rugby, its fantastic. To be honest it’s the highlight of my week, my entire week!

 What convinced you to take part in the tri rugby programme?

I had been attending ‘Milestone’, which is a community rehab centre, back in 2014 and some of the ‘TPS Connects’ volunteers were coming into the centre to give a talk about the tri rugby programme. There were a couple of guys who had been through the community rehab before me, so they had already attended these rugby sessions and had been talking about it. I just tagged along with them one day and joined in.

How do you feel about the whole programme?

To be honest with you, I think the rugby programme is fantastic. When I first came to the sessions, I was a little nervous and anxious but everyone made me feel welcome. It’s a lot when you’re going through a community rehab programme; sometimes your confidence and self-worth are completely gone and you’re frightened to try new things. But as I say, the guys were fantastic, so welcoming and there was no judging. The whole atmosphere was brilliant, it just felt so safe and on top of that I got some physical exercise. It is amazing!

Do you think now you’re involved in this you have become more confident?

Yes definitely, doing the rugby and working with the coaches, they all make you feel in a good place and so safe. I would actually go and try new things. When I first started, I was going one week and then not but it quickly changed; what encouraged me to keep coming back was the support from the coaches and guys there.

In the summer, I had a major relapse and when I came out of hospital – I got out on the Tuesday – the first thing I wanted to do is play rugby of course I was there on the Thursday. I don’t think I’ve missed it once – in fact I have but that’s because I had to pick up my gran daughter from school one time. So looking back on the last 8 months, my whole life has changed, and that’s all down to the rugby.

Are there ways in which you feel the programme supports your personal development or has changed you?

If I’m genuinely being honest, my whole life has changed from last summer, even my friends, family and children see it. I used to let all my stuff go and put everyone in front of me, but not now it’s all changed – if anyone says to me if I can do something on a Thursday, I say ‘My Thursdays are for rugby!’. I feel a lot better for it, I feel stronger, my family has actually grown a lot stronger, too; it’s helped me and my two children and my wee family unit.  Previously it was not on a steady path, because of where I was. Now, because I’ve got so much stronger coming to the rugby throughout my recovery, my whole family has changed – it’s unbelievable. It’s had a knock on effect, even with my dad, as he trusts me now. It’s changed my whole family life: I’m a lot happier now, I’m learning new things and at the end of day I’m getting exercise.

What is the sense of community in the programme like? Have you made new friends or met old ones?  

I have, it’s amazing! They’re all very supportive and obviously, playing rugby we’re a team, but it goes beyond that. I’ve made new friends, and the friendships I did have, have grown stronger. Every week, I also see other people in the programme grow, alongside myself. It’s so reassuring and with the coaches putting in their fantastic work, you don’t feel any pressure – you feel in a safe place, where you can grow. The sense of community among the group is absolutely brilliant.

What are your hopes for the future of the programme? What do you want to achieve?

As I say, the past 9 months of my life have absolutely changed me as a person. I’ve been in recovery since 2009 but this is the first time I’ve actually experienced structure in my life. I’ve been goal setting and my health has got better. I hope to keep going to the rugby, keep encouraging more people to come – it’s a shame that a lot of people don’t know about it, so its good to get new people involved. Another personal goal for the next year or two will be to access more college courses, continue with the rugby and to be a support worker. It’s my goal and I know I will achieve it! It’s amazing, isn’t it? I know I’ve grown, I feel it myself. Last year I would never have said that about myself, which is why I want to go into support work. The thing about the rugby and the classes is that, not only are you supporting others and  get stronger yourself but you have so much fun, it’s unbelievable!

Some might say it’s just one day a week but for me, that one day means I can structure my whole week and get a routine. Because later, your routine on a Thursday spills into your whole week because you’re getting more confident! At the same time, you’re constantly learning about yourself and from the coaches, so it keeps getting better. The way you guys look at things is brilliant.

Is there anything else you would have liked to talk about that I have not mentioned?       

I could go on forever, I honestly feel the rugby has changed my whole life. For example, I have my uncle Frank in Canada phoning me once a every few weeks. “How’s the rugby kiddo?”, he asks – he called the other night and as he loves rugby we can talk about that now. It’s something we would never have had in common in the past. I remember, he also said to my dad, that he hears a big difference in me, just from the fact that I’ve started the programme this year. To me, that’s a lot coming from my uncle in Canada. He can’t believe the difference and now I am going to visit him in August.

This story is why it’s good that we go to other rehab services, because I know for a fact that if I hadn’t started coming to the rugby with Joe and Boaby, I don’t know where I’d be. The one thing I do know is that I wouldn’t be as happy and content in my life as I am now. I would never be where I am, never! I’ve never before felt so focused and structured in all my life, isn’t that crazy? I have also come to realise that I love learning. I never knew how much I did before I started the rugby and the class room sessions we do after the training. Now I have decided I am going to become a support worker because I love helping people. The programme has helped me make that decision, so at the moment, I’m doing a lot of volunteering and have also started a citizenship course. When I see the new guys coming in and then coming back, you see the change, especially at the early stages. It forms an extra lifeline for them.The environment the coaches create, it wouldn’t matter where the programme was held, whether it was in a park or in a wee community centre, is simply awesome.

And you want to know one of the best bits? My son tells his friends about me and the rugby. That shows that my children are getting proud of me and I’m getting some respect back. I took a lot of that away in the past but now, life is good.

 

Our Story so Far…

Even though some might think so, rugby isn’t simply about strong men and women running about and bashing into each other. Rugby is and always has been a team game, one that can create an exhilarating and fulfilling activity. That’s the view we take at Trust Rugby International and we go one step further: We believe rugby is a sport that can provide outlets for those normally not engaged in sport.

The above picture tells this story, a story that began in June 2012 in Kilmarnock, where, with a small group of volunteers, a three month pilot project from NHS Ayrshire & Arran began. Though founded in 2010, this was the project that would set the pace for Trust Rugby International’s growth over the next years. The project was set up to encourage those with learning disabilities or difficulties to try rugby and play alongside able bodied players to create a new variation of the sport. Unified rugby would not separate players of different abilities anymore but encourage them to learn from one another and grow together. This approach of teaching players how to support one another and enable the potential of others instead of only themselves formed the basis of tri’s goal: To proactively tackle any limiting assumption that would prevent individuals, communities and cultures coming together to try rugby. 

Unexpectedly, the pilot proved even more successful than anticipated. After the three months, it secured further financial support from both NHS Ayrshire & Arran and Scottish Government. With such clear signs of support, tri concentrated on building a player base at its home base at Kilmarnock Rugby Club over the next year. With participation constantly increasing and a dedicated group of supporters on the sidelines, the coaches went on to build player confidence and skills. With such dedication on display week after week, the team, then officially named The Clan, took part in the first official tri Unions Cup in June 2013. Inviting unified rugby teams from across the UK and with just as much variety of experience, tri set out to stage an event that would build new partnerships and strengthen the impact of unified sports. While the fledgling Clan narrowly lost out to their experienced guests from Bradford and Llanelli, they were never discouraged. The team went on to have a truly memorable season, impressing audiences and teams alike when traveling to Llanelli and Belfast, not just with outstanding player performances and wins but by sharing their spirit on social nights.

With these trips helping The Clan to build lasting friendships and tri to take new directions for growth, it only made sense to spread these new ideas for personal development through rugby. In June 2014, tri organised the tri Nation’s Cup, a week-long festival of unified rugby. With support from ENABLE Scotland, the festival was all about ‘Tackling Limiting Assumptions’. Over 200 pupils from both ASN as well as mainstream schools from all over Ayrshire took part in tri’s rugby workshops during the first two days, while ENABLE Scotland offered talks on inclusivity not only for the pupils but also for all teachers, parents and carers who wanted to become more involved in setting a good example. Equipped with goodie bags and special t-shirts, everyone joined in on the fun and many new connections were formed through the fun the exercises created. But the work didn’t stop there for tri: Coaching workshops, rugby practices and social inclusion training sessions all proved popular, with coaches attending from Scotland, England, Wales, France and Spain. With so many guests staying on to watch the main tournament on the final day, The Clan’s first big win was all the more impressive and celebrated in style.

The seeds sown during the festival grew quickly, with new rugby teams being set up across the UK and tri entering into talks with Scottish Rugby to establish a formal partnership. With interest ever increasing, a new Clan team was set up in Edinburgh and tri finalised plans to carry its values into schools in Edinburgh, just as it had done in Ayrshire. However, it was not just schools interested in working with tri; during the autumn, the BBC aired a feature on tri’s work during the Edinburgh v Leinster game and shortly after, The Clan was invited to play a ten-a-side demonstration game during half-time at the Scotland v Tonga International at Rugby Park Kilmarnock. Truly a highlight of the season for the players. While these were wonderful news already, tri’s development team were also proud to be awarded a Positive Coaching Scotland accreditation by the Bill McLaren Foundation and take their partnership with Scottish Rugby to the next level, by agreeing to deliver inclusive rugby presentations and coaching sessions to clubs throughout Scotland and drive the foundation of further unified teams. Being given the chance to further the charity’s impact with such prominent support is truly invaluable to tri.

Having pioneered unified rugby in Scotland, tri and The Clan were delighted to compete at the Mixed Ability Rugby World Tournament in Bradford and to be chosen as the country’s first fully unified, full contact national squad, in partnership with Scottish Rugby. Prior to leaving, Scottish Rugby President Ian Rankin even presented The Clan with jerseys for the tournament. The event itself was truly memorable, both on and off the field. Scotland finished unbeaten, with three wins and one draw against the eventual winners, our Irish friends, the Sundays Well Rebels. Off the field, it is fair to say the team took a wonderful part in the social side of rugby, leading their Basque, French, Italian and Welsh counterparts in a conga around the field, entertaining the crowd throughout the days and encouraging social gatherings after the matches. The crowd were well entertained and the team set everybody in the mood for a party to celebrate friends old and new and memories that would last a lifetime.

Since these events, tri have been able to further build their partnerships, carrying the values of rugby into schools in Ayrshire and Edinburgh as well as introducing The Missing Trick programme with Glasgow Caledonian University and Turning Point Scotland to support those recovering from addiction. Our work doesn’t just concentrate on one group of people, it is for everyone. Promoting social inclusion has always been tri’s aim and while winning a game of rugby is nice, the life-changing aspect of our work is giving others the feeling of being included, valued and to have the chance of making a contribution. Our story so far proves that what tri are doing has a profound effect on all participants, on and off the field. Some of our players have moved into unsupported accommodation in the past year, gone to college, and gained employment, while others have made friends and feel they belong for the first time. That in itself is a reason to keep going and celebrate every achievement along the way.