Goal

My initial Laidlaw research project in year 1 was the role of grassroots sports clubs in local communities, and I concentrated the research on East Durham in the North of England.  As a Durham University student, I wanted to make a meaningful contribution to the communities that are situated around the wider university area.  In the second year of the Laidlaw programme, I wanted to bring an international perspective to the research by applying it to an organisation that contributes to, and supports the development of, grassroots rugby in a number of diverse communities.

As a self-defined leadership project, I really only had one place in mind for my Leadership in Action Project … Auckland, New Zealand.  There are two main reasons why I choose to focus my ethical leadership and being a global citizen while making a contribution to local communities in Auckland:

1:  It’s personal!

As a rugby player who has represented my school, and both my college and Durham University, rugby is a huge part of my life and has contributed positively to my personal and social development, by teaching me to be resilient, work as part of a team as well as being a leader, exhibit selflessness, and to have a strong work ethic and a positive mental attitude.

In 2018, during a rugby training session at school, I thought about the rugby boots players discard each season.  I researched models for repurposing used boots, in order to develop a business plan for a social enterprise.  In December 2018 I presented my business plan, 'Boots from Belfast', to PwC's Partner & Head of International Development (UK), and PwC's lead on Corporate Social Responsibility. PwC acknowledged the impact my business plan could make and agreed to assist in its development.  

In 2022, my social enterprise, Boots from Belfast, made a boots and shoe donation in aid relief for pacific communities in Auckland, New Zealand, who had been displaced due to the devastating volcanic eruption and tsunami that hit Tonga in early 2022. Since then, I have often thought about the communities in Auckland who were seeking to engage in sports, and how they have recovered from the impact of the natural disaster.

2:  The journey.

Auckland is the furthest place I can fly to from where I live in the UK before I come back on myself; over 11,000 miles! If I was to grow and really put myself out of my comfort zone during my Leadership in Action Project, then I really had to go to the other side of the world. Having previously assessed the communities in Auckland in 2022, and their involvement with grassroots rugby and what impact it had on their communities, I wanted to apply me research first-hand during my Leadership in Action Project, and see how I could grow and learn from such resilient and diverse communities.

Objectives

Rugby is one of, if not the biggest grassroots sports in New Zealand, and I am aware that the Auckland Rugby Union is responsible for the management, administration, marketing and development of rugby for over 20 clubs across the province.  Auckland Rugby Union (ARU) is the ideal placement to carry-out the second year of my Laidlaw Scholarship, LIA, assessing the role and impact of grassroots sports in local communities while volunteering at a club rugby level to give back to the communities that ARU supports.  To be precise, during my Leadership in Action with ARU, I sought to apply my research to ARU; assessing what Social Return on Investment (SROI) was made to communities through ARU support and commitment to club rugby in Auckland. 

Me on my first day in Auckland – that’s the Auckland Sky Tower behind me

Outcomes

The outcomes of my time with ARU are to engage with grassroots rugby clubs across Auckland, applying my research methods from year 1, in assessing the SROI that is generated in communities through participation in club rugby.  I believe that this is a form of ethical leadership that I am applying on behalf of the communities.

Another outcome I wish to achieve is to contribute to, or maybe even begin in some instances, the conversation around social impact from sports participation between funders (ARU) and communities (grassroots clubs) and potentially leave a legacy of engagement for continued conversations after I have returned to the UK.

The UN Sustainable Goals that my LIA relates to are:

GOAL 1: No More Poverty. My LIA seeks to engage and apply social impact research which could contribute to combating poverty.

GOAL 3:  Good Health and Wellbeing. Ensuring healthy lives and promoting the well-being for all at all ages is essential to sustainable development.  My LIA is helping to ensure health and wellbeing by assisting with sport participation for children and young people.

GOAL5: Gender Equality. Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.  My LIA seeks to empower women and girls to achieve their equal rights through conversations around participation in grassroots sports and social impact.

GOAL 10: Reduced Inequalities. To reduce inequalities, policies should be universal in principle, paying attention to the needs of disadvantaged and marginalized populations.  My LIA aim is to support those children and young people from communities that do not have access to the same advantages as those from more fortunate communities.