Junior rugby supervisors receive first aid training

Fawely (28 April 2010) -- Coaches and parent volunteers who regularly supervise junior teams at a popular Waterside rugby club have all received updated first aid training, thanks to a £1,000 donation from Esso and ExxonMobil Chemical at Fawley.

The Fawley Rugby Club, which caters for players from five years old to adults, received the grant in recognition of the time and effort an ExxonMobil employee and her family have put into volunteering with the club. The ExxonMobil scheme not only helps local organisations, but also improves the links between the company and the local community.

The grant applicant was Alison Jones, who is a supervisor in Information Technology at the Fawley site. She and her husband Les have both been involved with the club for many years. Alison is currently the manager of the under-14 team and Les is the coach. Two other parent volunteers with the team are also ExxonMobil employees, Tony O’Connor who is a process supervisor and Tony Mayhew who is a process leader.

The donation was used to provide first aid training to coaches and parent volunteers involved with the whole of the junior section. It has also paid for a new kit for the under-14 team managed by Alison and this will be in use next season.

Alison said: “Rugby has so many benefits for young players both on and off the pitch. As well as the obvious rewards in terms of maintaining health and fitness, it also helps young players develop socially.

“All the adults involved with the club help out on a voluntary basis, which means that every penny we get through the subs benefits the young players. This grant has meant that we have been able to provide vital but expensive first aid training, without having to dip into the club reserves.”

Francesca Toma of Community Affairs at ExxonMobil in Fawley said: “Safety is paramount at ExxonMobil so we are delighted to support the rugby club with this funding that will help to keep the young players safe.”

The ExxonMobil Volunteer Involvement Programme at Fawley, together with its sister scheme for school governors, has contributed more than £493,000 to local community projects since it was started six years ago.