Our Chief Executive, Lynne Fernquest, explains what the proposed Stadium for Bath could do for the Foundation and our community.

In an exciting milestone for our city, the planning application for the Stadium for Bath has been submitted, paving the way for significant improvements in our community, particularly for our most vulnerable.

Children and young people are at the heart of what we do here at Bath Rugby Foundation and have been for 20 years. But you might be asking yourself, how will the Stadium for Bath benefit the Foundation and the community we serve?

It may surprise you to know that in Bath and North East Somerset, there are around 10,000 children living in poverty and we work with around 4,500 of them every year. With the promise of bigger and better facilities and improved learning spaces, the Foundation can extend its reach, and offer more young people the hope they are lacking.

Specifically, we will be able to deliver expanded programmes and services, including educational workshops, sports coaching, and mentoring schemes, and for the first time, we will have the space to collaborate with other charities.

Stadium for Bath will be much more than a rugby ground. It'll be a place for Bath to come together; a place for us to connect; a place for Bath to grow its rugby and deepen its community connections.

Throughout the year, Bath Rugby Foundation also hosts a variety of family festivals, including the Mixed Ability Rugby Cup and the Summer Scrum, which celebrate the achievements of our children and young people.

With the installation of a hybrid pitch, the Stadium for Bath will become more accessible to schools, clubs, and community groups, offering a broader range of activities. In stark contrast to the current pitch, the hybrid offering will enable three times more usage, transforming the stadium into a bustling hub of sporting activities in the heart of our city.

The new plans also place a strong emphasis on accessibility, putting the inclusion element of the Foundation’s work at the forefront. There will be ramps, lifts, accessible toilets, hearing loops, and more to ensure the seamless inclusion of people with varying access needs.

We would also love to put ourselves at the heart of the build. Through apprenticeships, work experience, and volunteer roles, our students and participants could gain valuable life skills, and put their names to something iconic. 

The Rec holds a special place in our hearts, cherished for its history, location, and purpose. Together, we can transform it into a place fit for everyone in our community.

If you share our belief that Bath should be a better place for all its children, we kindly urge you to support the application by clicking on this link before the Saturday, November 4th deadline.

Your support will make a world of difference. 

Comment on the Stadium for Bath application, here.