CSR: Endless gets in team spirit for charity rugby tournament and The Lighthouse Trust brings on Emmerdale stars

The 11th annual charity touch rugby tournament in aid of children’s charity Wooden Spoon has been launched.

This year’s event, on 29 June, will take place at 6pm at West Park Leeds in Bramhope, with a barbecue and drinks following the tournament.

Last year attracted around 150 players, representing 14 corporate teams including Blacks, Santander, Deloitte, Eversheds, KMPG, Yorkshire Water, PWC and last year’s winners The RFL.

Organisers are hoping to build on the £4,000 that was raised last year for Wooden Spoon, the children’s charity of rugby.

It funds around 70 projects a year to support disadvantaged and disabled children with sensory rooms and specialist playgrounds to respite and community care facilities.

The RFU help with the operational running of the tournament and referees are provided from the Yorkshire Society of referee.

To enter, each team needs seven players on the pitch, including two females, however the number of substitutes is unlimited – the more the merrier, said organisers. The cost of entering a team is £300 which goes directly to the charity.

Endless LLP, the Leeds-based mid-market private equity house, have come on board as a partner and sponsor this year. The firm’s n house charity, the Turnaround Foundation, has similar aims to Wooden Spoon in transforming the lives of children facing disadvantages.

Stuart Watson, Wooden Spoon Yorkshire region chairman, said: “The annual Wooden Spoon Touch rugby tournament has grown over the years to become one of the great summer events in Leeds. It captures the essence of Wooden Spoon as a fun event in , hopefully, glorious summer evening sunshine, whilst raising funds to support projects in Yorkshire. All of the funds we raise in Yorkshire are used to back much needed projects here in the county.

Michael Rice, associate director at Endless, said: “Having participated in the Wooden Spoon Touch Rugby tournament on more than one occasion, I am delighted that Endless LLP have been able to come on board as a partner for the event.

“The impact that Wooden Spoon has had on the lives of disabled and disadvantaged young people cannot be underestimated and we are proud to be associated with an organisation that makes such a difference to our local communities.”

To get involved contact:
Michael Rice, Endless LLP: michael.rice@endlessllp.com
Tom Holroyde, EY: tholroyde@uk.ey.com
Ben Leach, EY: bleach@uk.ey.com

***

Stars of television’s Emmerdale and pupils from Rose Court nursery and pre-prep school in Headingley played their part in World Autism Awareness Week.

The week, which ran from 27 March to 2 April, saw both the cast of Emmerdale and children at Rose Court, part of The Grammar School at Leeds, donating clothes to raise funds for Lighthouse School in Leeds, for young people on the autism spectrum.

Their clothing will be sold in the pre-loved section of Keepers Coffee and Kitchen, a social enterprise café and gift shop in Cookridge, run by Lighthouse Futures Trust.

The Trust partners with special schools and colleges to offer employment opportunities for young adults with autistic spectrum condition or learning difficulties.

Two of the Emmerdale cast were on hand at Rose Court to help pupils get the clothes ready for delivery to the café. Gillian Kearney, whose character is Emma Barton in the long-running soap, was joined by Charley Webb, who plays Debbie Dingle, and whose son is a pupil at Rose Court.

Gillian said: “Everyone at Emmerdale is keen to get on board and donate items to support Lighthouse School in the fantastic work it does for children and the community. Lighthouse is committed to helping with life after school; even although the pupils are well educated with lots to offer employers, doors can often be closed to them.”

Caron Munro, development and programme manager at Lighthouse Futures Trust, said: “In World Autism Awareness Week we want to highlight the potential of our young people. We are grateful to Rose Court pupils and to the cast of Emmerdale for helping us raise both awareness and funds to keep our important work going. The donations have a real impact on our fundraising for the charity.”