A ball has still yet to be kicked but the Rugby League World Cup 2021 has already delivered more than £25m worth of “positive change” in communities across England.
That’s the finding of an independent report which today revealed the true extent of the tournament’s ‘trailblazing’ social impact programme.
Delayed 12 months due to the pandemic, the World Cup kicks-off with England v Samoa in Newcastle on October 15.
But organisers have already enabled positive impact with programmes delivered mainly across the host towns and cities in the North of England and often in areas of high deprivation.
The interim report - a final version will be published after the tournament - says an initial investment of £635,000 has transformed into £25.8m of funding.
“The RLWC2021 has always been about much more than delivering 61 world class matches across three tournaments,” said RLWC2021 CEO Jon Dutton.
“From its very inception, we set out to be a tournament with a purpose and with the objective of making a real impact in towns and cities with a Social Impact Programme created to deliver more than £25million of positive change.
“We have chosen to deliver this programme with support from the RFL, DCMS, Sport England and UK Sport, and our trailblazing work has been central to the tournament’s objectives.
“And that change is happening right now, with the vast majority of the funding having been utilised before the tournament has begun.
"A fundamental obstacle to social mobility is a lack of local opportunities and the ability to have access to new experiences and build self-efficacy.
“Our Social Impact Programme has been about creating those opportunities.
“This interim report tells the story of a programme that's created change and delivered a positive impact, in spite of significant challenges, and delivering our ambition to leave long-lasting outcomes for diverse communities beyond the Rugby League World Cup tournament.
“It details the incredible power that sport has to make a difference.”
Working in partnership with organisations like Movember, Community Integrated Care and UNICEF UK has been crucial in enabling RLWC2021 to reach a far wider and diverse audience than otherwise would have been possible.
The tournament’s CreatedBy grant funding has been the catalyst for projects to secure additional funding leading to an overall financial investment of more than £21m delivered in partnership with the RFL. This has been transformational for rugby league and community facilities across the country with a particular focus on making the sport more accessible for disabled users and women and girls.
It has seen investment in 38 clubhouses, 22 changing rooms, 18 pitches, 23 goalposts, three kitchens, ten lawnmowers, four gyms
And 102 kit and equipment packs
RLWC2021 is also the first major sporting event to launch a mental fitness charter with 271 workshops delivered to 114 community and professional clubs, schools and online, reaching 4,500 players and 400 coaches.
Sports minister Nigel Huddleston said the RLWC2021 would “create a lasting community legacy through its social impact programme” while UK Sport CEO Sally Munday said it is “vital in nurturing the next generation, breaking down participation barriers, and helping ensure sport in the future is a true reflection of society.”
Sport England CEO Tim Hollingsworth added: “Everybody should feel they are able to access sport and physical activity, regardless of who they are, where they live or their background.
“The work that the RLWC2021 team has done is a great step in making this a reality.”
