City Academy
Sport England funded the Ealing Trailfinders Foundation, in collaboration with Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s Anti-Gangs and Exploitation Team, to deliver a year-long project for local boys aged under 15 and under 16 (Years 10 and 11).
The project successfully established a free after-school rugby club, providing boys with limited rugby exposure—typically through school PE lessons—the opportunity to experience the benefits of being part of a rugby club. Working within the RFU’s TREDS guidelines, the initiative not only focused on developing rugby skills but also supported the boys in building social and life skills.
Additionally, the programme aimed to create potential pathways through the Trailfinders Rugby Academy, with opportunities to progress to Henley College and even Brunel University London, fostering both personal and athletic development.
City Academy: Colts
In addition to the City Academy for U15 and U16 boys, the Ealing Trailfinders Foundation received funding from Right to Thrive to run a Colts age group session. This initiative aimed to promote the core values of Rugby Union—such as teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline, and sportsmanship—while supporting the development of young men, particularly from the White City area.
The programme provided an opportunity to foster personal growth, resilience, and community connection through rugby, ensuring participants could benefit from both the physical and social aspects of the sport.
Unconcealing Ealing
The Heritage Lottery supported the Ealing Trailfinders Foundation in creating a programme for local school children to explore the history of their rugby club and the local area. During the 2020 lockdown, the Foundation produced a nine-episode online resource, blending insights into rugby history, the history of Ealing, and global historical contexts.
With the lifting of lockdown, Foundation Coaches visited schools to deliver the learning package alongside a tailored curriculum of coaching games linked to each lesson’s theme. The programme also included a matchday experience, offering children the chance to interact with past and present players, further enriching their understanding and connection to the sport and community.
Feeding the Community
During the lockdown period, the Ealing Trailfinders Foundation began supporting Ealing Food Bank by hosting regular food collections and delivering donations to their distribution centre. As restrictions eased and people returned to work, the Foundation established a drop-off container at Trailfinders Sports Club, allowing donations at any time for added convenience.
Through this initiative The Ealing Trailfinders Foundation has facilitated the donation of nearly three and a half tonnes of food.
Inclusive Rugby
The Ealing Trailfinders Foundation received funding from the National Lottery to promote rugby as a tool for development by supporting local schools working with children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
The first partner in this initiative was Stony Dean School in Amersham, where the Foundation transported students to Trailfinders Sports Club. Here, they participated in rugby sessions designed to enhance communication skills, teamwork, and resilience in handling mistakes, alongside learning core rugby skills. Former first-team players Max Davies and Reon Joseph joined the launch, marking the opening of the school’s new running track.
Each term, students had the chance to showcase their learning in a matchday workshop, with the opportunity to form the Guard of Honour for the Ealing Trailfinders 1st XV. Following this success, the programme expanded in the spring term to include the Young People’s Academy in Uxbridge, continuing its mission of empowering SEND students through rugby.