Players from Hawick’s CashBack School of Rugby took part in a community clean-up on Sunday 16th May, dedicating their time in a bid to tidy up the town’s streets.
The young people, who play with Hawick Youth Rugby, joined Hawick Volunteers, Community Councillors and members of the public in clearing rubbish from outdoor spaces around the local area.
In addition to picking litter, players made use of their sporting skills by running up embankments to scarify the land, which will allow wild flower seeds to access the soil and germinate.
Hawick Community Council said the efforts of participants were greatly appreciated, remarking that everyone who took part did a “brilliant job” pulling together to make a difference.
The young rugby players from Hawick are no strangers to giving back to their community. In March 2021, members of the squad took part in a sleep-out charity event to raise money for the Hawick Salvation Army food bank. The food bank was set up in the organisation’s Croft Road premises in Spring 2020, in a bid to help those facing increased hardship as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Scotland rugby star Rory Sutherland, who played for Hawick as a youth, supported the fundraising efforts of the young Cashback School of Rugby participants on social media. He said:
“I think what you’re doing is absolutely fantastic. The sleepout to help out is an absolutely brilliant cause to help raise money for the Salvation Army in Hawick, and I hope that you can all do your bit to raise as much as possible.
“Good luck, enjoy it and I hope it all goes well.”
Participants massively exceeded their original target of £500, ultimately raising over £1,400 for those in need.
In partnership with Scottish Rugby, the CashBack School of Rugby programme works with seventeen secondary schools in some of Scotland’s most deprived areas. The goal is to encourage young people to participate in the sport and contribute positively in community activities, building their capacity and confidence as well as their physical fitness and cognitive skills, and supporting their personal growth and development.
