Launching the "Rugby+" framework

Launching Rugby+ at Kingston Park, Newcastle

It was fantastic to be at Kingston Park this week, home of the Newcastle Falcons Rugby Union and Newcastle Thunder Rugby League teams.

We were there for the official launch of the new Rugby+ framework, which we've been supporting the Newcastle Rugby Foundation to develop over the course of the year. There was incredible buzz in the venue from around a hundred specially invited guests as we listened to stories of how the foundation is making an impact in people’s lives.

Enhancing Impact is at the heart of everything we do at Goodlabs and we’ve been thrilled to be able to walk a journey with NRF as they have sought to more clearly articulate the difference they make. A big part of impact management being really clear about the change you want to achieve in people’s lives, then working back from this to ensure that you have all the necessary links in the chain to make it happen.

We produced a new theory of change for the foundation, linked to a detailed Outcomes Framework containing a range of bespoke indicators to enable the tracking of participant progress over time. Time was taken to make sure this framework could be embedded in the CRM system that the foundation uses (Upshot) as well as training key members of staff in how to use a number of new/updated digital evidence collection tools.

By organising the new framework into four headline themes, linking in to the Rugby+ branding, we ensured that the new ideas become ‘sticky’ within the team, and can be easily communicated to stakeholders. (see graphic below) It was great to have the chance to collaborate with marketing agency Cravens to develop and finesse the language used in the model.

Good luck to all the team as you step up your activities in the months ahead :-)

The four impact themes in the new Rugby+ framework

Assessing the Impact of Skateboarding!

Skateboarding occupies a substantial niche within the broader sporting landscape. Data shows that over 50,000 people in England regularly participate. It is also recognised that Skateboarding exerts an even larger cultural influence through fashion, media and video games. At Toyko 2020 it will debut as an Olympic Sport.

Against this backdrop Goodlabs is excited to have been appointed to undertake an Impact Assessment on behalf of one of Britain’s most iconic Skateboarding facilities, a social enterprise located in Manchester. Over more than a decade Projekts MCR aka ‘The Pumpcage’ has grown a large and diverse community of enthusiasts who together make around 20,000 visits per year. All are welcome, young and old, male and female, beginners and advanced.

Starting with the obvious health impacts of regular physical exercise our Impact Assessment will also consider the impact upon the mental and emotional wellbeing of participants, the benefits of belonging to a supportive community, the impacts of the associated school-outreach programme, and the economic benefits to Manchester of the thousands of visitors who flock to the park from far and wide.

The Impact Assessment work forms part of a £320,000 investment plan to upgrade and extend the facility, securing its future for at least another 10 years.

The Sport Relief video below narrated by Tom Daley explains just a little of what makes Projekts so special...