New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) has awarded a grant of $69,690 to support New Brighton Rugby Football Club (NBRFC) upgrade their changing rooms and to resource a development officer to attract and retain more junior and female players.
Wayne Turner, Finance Sub-Committee member and Life Member of NBRFC, says: " At the grassroots level, club rugby is facing challenges, with declining membership due to increasing competition from other sports. While New Brighton RFC continues to attract enthusiastic young players, many drop off during secondary school and don’t return. To address this, the club has a development officer focused on growing our junior and female membership.”
Upgrading changing room facilities to make them more accessible and female friendly was identified as a critical component for attracting and retaining female players. With NZCT’s support, upgrades will include privacy curtains in showers, gender-neutral toilets, and non-slip tiling to better accommodate multiple female teams.
As a founding member of Eastern Community Sport & Recreation (ECSR) — created to unite clubs on the domain in a ‘Sportsville’-style hub — NBRFC shares its facilities with a wide range of local groups, including cricket, netball, softball, athletics, archery, American football, an after-school programme, and a school lunch provider. The planned upgrades will help ensure the clubrooms remain a vibrant, inclusive space all year round.
NZCT’s GM of Grants, Marketing and Communications, Ben Hodges says “The club has a fantastic history and infrastructure but recognised that more could be done in terms of inclusivity. NZCT wants more people enjoying and benefiting from participation in sport, so we were right behind the club’s aspirations. Grants like this one wouldn’t be possible without the responsible gaming partnerships we share with our Christchurch-based venues.
With the continuity of rugby development officer funding, upgraded facilities on the way, and more inclusive opportunities being created, New Brighton RFC is ready to build on its proud legacy and welcome the next generation of players through its doors.
