COOLMINE RFC INCLUSION POLICY

COOLMINE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING A ‘RUGBY HOME’ FOR ALL.

Mr. Billy Linehan for Coolmine RFC

Back in 1980, Coolmine Rugby Club was founded by a local doctor and a teacher in Coolmine Community College. The aim of the Club is to provide the people of North West Dublin with the opportunity to play and enjoy rugby.

41 years later, the Club has 5 Adult teams, 4 Youth teams, 7 Girls teams and a busy mini-rugby section of Cubs to Under 12s. The club also have an outlet for those with disabilities in the form of the Coolmine Pumas, and a Veterans team for older players

Members are welcome from all over, most have not played the game of rugby before. Facilities (which are available to the community to rent) include playing pitches, artificial playing surfaces and a wheelchair accessible clubhouse.

Recognising its place within one of Ireland’s youngest and most diverse communities, the Club has a programme where we maximise our outreach through inviting community groups to use the facility and our CCRO programme with Dublin 15 schools including a wide range of activities.

What makes Dublin 15 special?

The area of Blanchardstown comprising of 10 Electoral Divisions (source DDLETB Youth Services Report 2018) contains many households that are excluded or marginalised.

Particularly Corduff, Mulhuddart Tyrellstown and Coolmine. There are wide divergences in the socio-economic profile of area. Youth unemployment in 2016 was roughly estimated was at 14.6% in the DDLETB Report (based on extrapolation from national figures).

Since the commencement of the pandemic this will have worsened. School progression to Third Level after completing Leaving Cert is as low as 38% (average for all schools in area is 75%). Blanchardstown is a young area, looking at the demographic profile of young people; 49% are under 10 years old, 37% are 11-19 years old, 14% are 20-24 years old.

Fingal Children and Young People’s Services Committees.

The Fingal Children and Young People’s Services Committees (CYPSC) published a Plan in 2019-21. Further information on the needs of the area were highlighted. A needs analysis noted that Dublin 15 (and Balbriggan) had high levels of deprivation, both sharing high concentrations of new communities. see excerpt from Report below.

Outreach Activities Historical Activity

What year? Coolmine RFC worked with the Fingal Community Coaching Officer, Gerry McCleery, to launch a pilot scheme aimed at giving transition year students an ability to coach at Mini Rugby level and, even, work within the area’s Primary schools…“Coolmine have quite a number of schools in their area and they hope that these young students, who all play for the Club, will enable teachers to introduce the game to their pupils”, explained McCleery. The four students were taken through the progressions used in Primary schools on the Tag Rugby programme, fitness for the young player, a module from the Leinster Branch Mini Coaching course and were also given a demonstration of some ball games and relays that can be used to improve children’s skills and coordination.
Tag Rugby takes place during the summer, host the Leinster Rugby Tag Programme for schools.
Coolmine Rugby Football Club 2011
Coolmine RFC’s Development Officer, Brian Smith, in conjunction with Gerry McClery from the Leinster Branch of the IRFU are organising a 4 week Tag Rugby Programme for local schools in the Dublin 15 area.

Colin Caffrey article

He has a big catchment area to deal with and in terms of hours spent on the ground, he is a busy man with a number of schools coming under his remit. The club itself has also benefited from the Colin Caffrey's work on the ground. The minis section of the club is thriving but with that comes the need for a lot of manpower to cater for their needs. There is a strong support structure in the club that he is grateful for, typified by the massive blitz they held in September. To coincide with the Rugby World Cup in Japan, the club held a 'World Cup' blitz, and it was attended by more than 750 children from primary schools in the area. That type of organising and planning doesn't happen by chance and they are a club that certainly has their house in order.To carry along the national trend in recent years, girls rugby in the club has also spiralled. "Numbers are up across the board and that is down to the hard work being put in across the board. "Over the summer the club had huge success with the 'Give it a Try' programme with roughly 120 registered girls for the programme Fruits "The fruits of which are seen in the newly established U-8, U-10, U-12, U-14, U-16s girls teams with 52 girls playing full-time and this is down to great work from those coaches and especially Shauna Peters for co-ordinating and organising." The club are coming up on being 40 years in existence and have grown in stature over the years in a city where there lots of clubs vying to keep their numbers up. Their youth and mini system continues to bear fruit with the likes of Vakh Abdaladze now on the books at Leinster and seeing first-team action.

Social inclusion in Dublin 15 (Blanchardstown, Mulhuddart)

Deprivation, definition

Households that are excluded or marginalised from consuming goods or services which are considered the norm for other people in society (due to an inability to afford them) are considered to be deprived. There are 11 basic deprivation indicators.

The 11 deprivation indicators are:

Two pairs of strong shoes
A warm waterproof overcoat
Buy new not second hand clothes
Eat meat, chicken, fish or a vegetarian equivalent every second day
Have a roast joint or its equivalent once a week
Had to go without heating during the last year through lack of money
Keep the home adequately warm
Buy presents for family or friends at least once a year
Replace any worn out furniture
Have family or friends for a drink or meal once a month
Have a morning, afternoon or evening out in the last fortnight for entertainment.

Demographic profile of young people

Blanchardstown, 49% are under 10, 37% are 11-19 years old, 14% are 20-24 years old

Cultural background

Blanchardstown is a cultural melting pot, and has a diverse and youthful population. See table below

Youth unemployment in 2016 roughly estimated at 14.6% (based on extrapolation from national figures). Since the commencement of the pandemic this will have worsened