Bristol Ladies Player Hardship Fund Paypal Account Now Live!

Bristol Ladies Player Hardship Fund

Paypal Account Now Live!

After launching the Player Hardship Fund in October this year, Bristol Ladies are happy to announce that you can now make a donation via Paypal by clicking on the link below.

Bristol Ladies launch Player Hardship Fund

Bristol Ladies are excited to launch their new Player Hardship Fund. The aim of the fund is to support our players who struggle with the financial commitments of playing rugby at the highest level.

Bristol Ladies is the only self-sufficient Women’s Rugby Club in the UK, raising the money to run the club though fundraising events, sponsorship and player annual subs. However there are additional costs such as training kit and away travel which individual players must cover in addition to their annual subs.

For some of our members these costs are affordable, but for others it all adds up. Players often struggle to find the extra cash and the club frequently receives requests to help players with these additional costs. We support these individuals by working out specific payment plans and encourage individual player sponsorship however for some this still may not be enough.  As a club we feel we have a duty to make sure the game of rugby is open to everyone everywhere, regardless of their background.  Nobody should be unable to play for the club because of their financial situation.

Rugby prides itself on being an all-inclusive family game and a building block within the community and this is why we have launched the fund.

Our goal is to build a pot of money from supporter and local business donations and have this available to those players who need financial help to continue their involvement with the club. Any registered member of the club will be able to submit a formal request outlining their personal circumstances and their requirements. All requests will be reviewed by a panel from the club and donors, on a case by case basis, allowing the funds to be allocated in a fair and transparent way.

Heidi Chapman-Mercer, Club Chairwoman outlined the importance of widening participation for women’s rugby in the South West. ‘Having such a diverse group of players involved in Bristol Ladies is one of the things that makes us a really special club. Launching the fund will allow us to support all our players and gives Bristol Ladies the best chance of reaching our full potential. By removing cost as one of the barriers, we’re opening the game up to more individuals.  The fund will be a lifeline to some of the girls here, allowing them to continue to play for us, and to all those who support us already and to those who will do in future - thank you’.