Exeter Chiefs Community has marked a successful first summer delivering its Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, reaching more than 100 young people at eight locations across Devon.
During the summer holidays, the Chiefs Community team brought its mix of sport, rugby, teamwork and personal development to communities across the county. Children and young people had the chance to stay active, try new activities and make friends in a safe, supportive setting.
The programme runs in partnership with Devon County Council and is part of the Government-funded HAF initiative, which gives eligible children and young people free holiday activities and healthy meals during school holidays.
In its first summer, the team delivered 21 days of activity, with 108 young people attending sessions at eight different locations.
Rugby remains central to the department's identity, but the HAF programme went beyond rugby. Sessions included a wide range of sports, games, challenges and team-building activities. Physical activity was used to engage young people and help them build confidence, communication, teamwork and resilience.
For many children, the sessions offered a chance to try sports and activities they might not otherwise have accessed. Each participant also received a nutritious meal, ensuring they could enjoy a full day of activity while getting the support they needed during the holidays.
Nick Gillard, Chiefs Community's HAF lead, said: "The numbers tell only part of the story, as throughout the summer, coaches have seen young people arrive at sessions feeling nervous or unsure, only to leave with new friendships, greater confidence and a real sense of achievement. The young people in our Moretonhampstead camp came from a number of schools, and home educated, came together to build a strong friendship group, which has carried on beyond our HAF programme."
From children picking up a rugby ball for the first time to young people discovering new sports, taking on leadership roles or simply finding a place where they felt comfortable and included, the programme aimed to make every session count.
The HAF programme also let the community team extend its reach beyond its usual delivery locations and connect with communities across Devon. Sessions took place in North Tawton, Moretonhampstead, Torrington, Kingsbridge, Plymstock, Tavistock, West Buckland and Exeter Athletic. This gave the team the chance to work with local organisations, schools, clubs and community groups.
The programme showed how professional sports clubs can support communities, using the profile and values of Exeter Chiefs to create positive experiences for children and young people.
Following the success of its first summer, the team is already looking at how to build on the programme and support young people across Devon in future school holidays.
Gillard added: "We are already looking forward to the Christmas holidays and making a positive impact on our most vulnerable young people, using movement as our social tool. For the Community team, the success of the summer has been about more than the number of sessions delivered or young people attending. It has been about creating opportunities. Opportunities to be active, to try something new, to make friends, and, most importantly, opportunities for young people to feel part of something."
With more than 100 young people reached, 21 sessions delivered and 110 meals provided, the first Exeter Chiefs Community HAF summer has given the team a strong foundation to build on.
Exeter Chiefs Community Marks First Summer of HAF in Devon