Redruth rugby tournament sets out to tackle more than the game

The last summer before secondary school can feel like standing at the edge of something. More than 80 children in Redruth spent a July afternoon meeting the police and fire crews who wanted to be a friendly face on the other side of that jump.

A festival with a purpose

The five-hour tag rugby festival brought together more than 80 youngsters, all aged 10 and 11 and all about to start Year 7 in September. Children from eight primary schools across the area played matches against their peers, warmed up, collected trophies, and spent time with the emergency services in a setting that had nothing to do with an emergency.

The event was organised by Devon & Cornwall Police and Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service and took place on Thursday 16 July at Redruth Rugby Club. The idea was to build connections with children at the point where they gain more independence, and to give them information that helps with the choices that come with it.

What the organisers said

Police Inspector Lou Brown said: “It was fantastic to see everyone having such a great time. Thank you to everyone who came along, including the local businesses and partners who donated food and drink and helped make the day possible.

“While the tournament was a fun and enjoyable experience for the young people involved, it also had an important purpose.

“It gave us an opportunity to engage with youngsters and share information that will help them make safe and informed decisions as they move into the next stage of their lives.

“Connecting with young people at an early stage like this is key to encouraging positive choices that can prevent them from becoming involved in crime or antisocial behaviour now or in the future.”

Dave Moyle, a firefighter from Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, said Red watch and on-call crews from Tolvaddon Community fire station were delighted to work in partnership with Devon & Cornwall Police to deliver the festival for local Year 6 children at Redruth RFC.

“The event not only showcased Cornwall’s emergency services working together to provide the children with a fun filled rugby festival and vital safety advice before the summer holidays, but beyond this, the initiative was designed to deliver significant additional benefits, including social interaction, physical activity, teamwork, camaraderie, and the breaking down of barriers between young people and emergency services,” Dave said.

The people behind the day

A long list of organisations and volunteers made the tournament happen. The RNLI attended, Healthy Cornwall came to speak with the children and provided sideline games, and Copper Jewellers supplied the trophies at cost price. McDonald’s, Asda, Morrisons and Tesco all contributed, and the Rapid Relief Team provided refreshments and burgers on the day.

Redruth Rugby Club provided the facilities. Photographer Dave Wills gave up his time, Nick Palmer printed material for the event, and Redruth School sent a group of Year 10 helpers to engage with the children and assist with the matches. Alex Ducker from Camborne Rugby Club helped the children warm up, and Rich Kevern from Redruth, working with Devon & Cornwall Police, refereed during the day and presented the trophies.

Eighty children now know a few of the faces they might see around town over the summer, and after Year 7 starts.