OUTREACH to the COMMUNITY  -   IVEL BARBARIANS RFC 

With its large youth membership, and historic connections to Westlands,  via the Senior Rugby club, Ivel Barbarians has always been closely linked to the community.  The club is available for hire for social events, and for community use.  The main hall is often used for Weddings, parties, receptions and dinners.  The hall is rented out for sports events such as T'ai Chi weekly.  

The sports fields are vacated several times a year for Aldon Horse Trials and the bar remains open for use, as are the showers and toilets.  Similarly the club is used for the Caravan Club.  When the Steam Fair is on during the summer, the grounds are used for the participants to camp on, and to park. 

Regular commitments are the Business Club and the Breakfast Club.  The Club hosts the Baggs Trophy matches each year, which is the annual Rugby tournament between the local comprehensives in the South Somerset District.  The Club has also held Junior Tag Rugby competitions for Primary Schools. 

The Super 6 Somerset training for South Somerset has been carried out at Ivel grounds for different age groups, and also a number of matches.  The club has also hosted Cup Matches. 

A number of our players have been selected for County, West of England and other teams.  In particular several past and present female players have been selected to play for England Under 21s, demonstrating that we can fulfil the requirements of expectations placed upon us, as we had to commit to providing facilities for girls as part of our original lottery grant for the new club.  This also demonstrates our commitment to Sport for All, and to Equal Opportunities. 

We have signed a Partnership agreement with Parcroft Junior School to provide coaching for interested year 5s and 6s, and several other parents help with rugby coaching at their children’s schools.  

In addition, the club has organised a number of rugby tours for the youth section and junior section.  The club has taken a large number of children to the Bournemouth Festival each year in order to participate in the Rugby Festival.  This has been organised by Chairman, Committee and coaches with parents assisting where appropriate.  In addition, a number of tours have been arranged for the older age groups, involving fundraising in order to provide equal access for all players no matter what their parents' financial status.  For example, Under 16s went to Canada one year, and the Under 16s went to Devon in 2006 and Cornwall in 2007.  Another team went to Southern Ireland. This provides opportunities for all players to experience travel away from home at minimal cost, in an environment where they are expected to behave appropriately and represent their club. Often this provides additional opportunities for those who might not have a chance to experience different activities away from home.  For example, the Under 16s went surfing whilst on tour in Cornwall under the supervision of trained instructors, as well as playing in their rugby matches.  This provides useful and positive activities for children and young people, for the benefit of the whole community. 

A young man, Matthew Watkins, who used to be a member of Ivel Barbarians took his own life, and ever since then his parents have funded a special trophy to award to the team who demonstrate the spirit of rugby.  This now forms part of our award ceremony each year, and his parents attend, and are happy for press coverage because they see this as being something positive that has come out of a very sad event in their lives. Recently a further donation to commemorate his parents 40^th Wedding anniversary, will be used to fund an Honours Board for the Junior and Mini section. 

Parents are also encouraged to become involved and participate in volunteering in the club, in the shop and in the coaching.  This often increases their confidence and participation in the community. 

In 2006 and 2007, a team of boys entered the Yeovil Fun Run as part of Ivel Barbarians.  Some of the players in our youth teams are now encouraged by their schools to do coaching courses and referee courses, and have been out to primary schools to encourage children and lead tag rugby.  This has been organised and monitored by their schools, but their motivation has started with their commitment to Rugby via Ivel Barbarians, and demonstrates how the club is helping its members be good citizens. 

The club encourages applications to join from young people with special needs or learning difficulties and will put arrangements in place to help them succeed, including making provision for children who are accommodated by local authorities if requested. 

The Junior Club also operates a policy of keeping membership charges as low as possible to widen access to as many as possible.  The committee, led by the Chairman, also try to ensure sufficient monies are available to allow for either help with kit or help with membership for applicants who do not have the means to pay, and whose children would otherwise not have the opportunity to play and learn rugby. 

When the World Cup was taken on a national tour, it was brought to Ivel Clubhouse and all were made welcome to come to view it free of charge, and many local people came!

Ivel Barbarians Junior Rugby

Youth Section Vision for the Future

 Ivel Barbarians Junior Rugby Youth Section

Vision for the Future

Ivel Barbarians Youth Section has gone from strength to strength since the new clubhouse was opened by the Senior members. The main aim for the mini and junior section is to encourage rugby for all ages, and ensure that all young players get maximum enjoyment from their sport. The role of the coaches and managers, as well as the Committee is to see enthusiasm and commitment to rugby developing in the junior players.

Ivel Barbarians Mini and Junior section is committed to an inclusive approach for all players, and welcomes players from diverse backgrounds. We particularly welcome players from minority ethnic groups and girls. We have a proven track record of offering support to young players in our teams who have learning difficulties and who have been in care, following the belief that through sport and commitment to rugby, positive outcomes can follow for young people.

Our main philosophy as supported by coaches and the committee is

1. To ensure that all players who have joined the club and attend training have an opportunity to play in every match.
2. To assist players in learning how to win and how to lose with sportsmanship.
3. To support players in working together as a team in this ultimate team sport of rugby in the knowledge that this will make a difference to their lives in the future.
4. To help players improve their rugby skills, knowledge of rugby laws, and their team game.
5. To allow all players to achieve their potential with encouragement and positive feedback.