Pink Ladies
Pink Ladies at the Rugby Ball Giving out awards Meet Paul SACKEY
Just four years ago, the Formby Vikings Rugby Club was set up to give youngsters an opportunity to play rugby. Now the club have 250 members, a full mini section, cater for juniors for both boys and girls and a Senior & Vets side. A flyer went out asking for help, and parents answered the call. Club players wear black red & white, coaches wear red and white tops, so to create their own special identity, pink rugby tops were given to club volunteers and thus the ‘Pink Ladies’ were born.
The ‘Pink Ladies’ have taken on roles throughout the rugby club from mums who wanted to do some coaching, to behind the scenes activities, such as administration, bacon butties, funding bids, and welfare. One young lady managed the U18s, while four are team managers, and one coach’s wife is the club secretary and another the rugby development officer. The Pink rugby tops are instantly recognisable as a volunteer who can be asked anything about the club.
The key to the success of Formby Vikings was to think differently! As soon as people come down to the club a warm welcome awaits them. The key is to identify the wide range of roles needed to run a successful rugby club and make people aware of them. The club uses examples (beyond the obvious coaching) of what anyone – men, women, boys and girls – can do to help out. It doesn’t matter if they’ve been involved in rugby before.
Jason Keating, Director of Rugby at the club, says “Have simple role descriptions to give people an idea of the type of commitment. Don’t put too much on any one person. When volunteers come forwards, make sure you sit down with them at the outset and agree what role suits them. Busy people take on more and more. Most people work and have kids to look after so agree a reasonable time that fits in their lifestyle so they don’t feel under pressure.
“Finding out about people unearths some valuable skills. For example our Welfare Officer is deputy head of a local school so brings great experience to the club which we didn’t previously have.
“Opportunities to train encourage volunteers to try new things. For example five mums are doing the Rugby Ready Course and others have done the RFU Safeguarding course. We support volunteers by giving them the name of a person to contact.
“Above all the ‘Pink Ladies’ have a fantastic social life thanks to their involvement in rugby. They regularly organise evenings out as well as attending the club dinner where they get flowers to thank them for their contribution. They have hired the local Cricket Club for an ‘Aintree Day’ knees up! have regular nights out and are looking forward to touring with the kids at the end of the season.
“As the club has grown their roles have grown and getting more involved. We run an end of season weekend extravaganza which includes a girls tournament, club bar-b-que, a match between two local high schools, a family fun day culminating in award presentations including proficiency awards.
“Every lady who volunteers there time is given a Pink Ladies shirt. The club raises funds to cover the cost. We invest a few quid but this nice gesture is more than repaid by the time the volunteers give.”
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