Sutton & Epsom RFC An amateur community rugby club

Crowdfunder Target Achieved

I am delighted to be able to inform you that the fund-raising campaign to improve some of our facilities for our Visually Impaired friends has achieved its objective: we have raised slightly over £5,000 and, accordingly, we have been able to bank a grant of £4,995 from Sport England. Although the improved facilities are primarily intended to help our VIR contingent, they will in fact benefit every category of member at SERFC. The works are scheduled to take place in stages, some will begin soon, but the improvements to the steps up to the War Memorial Stand are likely to take place during the summer. Speaking for myself, I might just about be able to get up the new steps next season!

I would like to take this opportunity of personally thanking all who have contributed to this cause – each and every contribution, no matter how small or how large, is of value, and reflects the collective spirit and endeavour which lie behind this project.

We have received the following message from VIR: “A huge thank you to everyone who has donated to support VI Rugby at Sutton & Epsom RFC. Your generosity is directly enabling visually impaired players to train, compete, and be part of a fully inclusive rugby club environment. This support removes barriers, creates opportunity, and makes a real difference to our players on and off the pitch. We’re genuinely grateful to every single person who has contributed, and as a token of our appreciation, we would like to donate a signed and framed England Visually Impaired Rugby shirt to Sutton & Epsom RFC.”

Another individual donor, himself part of the VIR contingent wrote: “Amazing work supporting our lads, we’ve never felt more welcome at a club!”

I am personally very proud to be President of a Club that is so genuinely inclusive and welcoming – my thanks to all those who have organised and driven this project.

John Hardy KC
President