Wooden
Spoon is rugby's charity supporting mentally, physically
and socially disadvantaged children and young people. Spoon
has committed to over £12 million in spending for
projects for children and young people. It has organised
over 1,500 events and had 20,000 ties worn by its loyal
members and supporters. Hardworking staff and volunteers
have achieved all of this since the birth of the charity.
It all began on a fateful day in Dublin in 1983 when England’s
Five Nations season ended in disaster with defeat by Ireland
leaving them languishing at the bottom of the table.
A group of English supporters were presented with a Wooden
Spoon by their Irish opponents to mark this historic occasion.
On returning home the proposal to play golf for the spoon
attracted the interest of fellow English supporters. Over
100 people attended that golf day at Farnham and by the
end of the evening £8450 had been raised. The funds
were cashed in for a minibus purchased for the Park Special
Needs School in Aylesbury. The charity was born...
Over time the number and variety of events increased
as have the number of supporters and participants. Spoon
now has patronage from the four rugby home unions and
royal patronage from Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.
Today there are 40 regional committees including three
national committees, Scotland, Wales and Ireland with
more than 10,000 members. It has become a national charity
but one working very much at a local level. All funds
raised locally are spent locally with national fund raising
supporting these funds £1 for £1.
Spoon’s strength and purpose, however, have been
to convert the funds derived from our fundraising activities
to benefit socially, mentally or physically disadvantaged
children and young people.
We support work that addresses a wide range of social
problems as well as physical illnesses and disabilities
ranging from cancer, cystic fibrosis and autism. Spoon
has a positive impact on disability in all its forms and
comforts the sick and needy whenever we have been able
to do so.
We meet challenges with good humour and much enjoyment.
We create events and activities that make demands on both
our sporting and social prowess. We are driven by a collective
ambition to see Wooden Spoon continue to grow in stature
and thereby continue to have a positive impact on disadvantaged
children and young people throughout the United Kingdom.
Since 2004, Spoon has consistenly raised over £1m
each year for distribution to local and national projects.
With each passing year we want to continue to raise the
bar higher and help more children with physical, mental
and social challenges.
www.woodenspoon.com
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