Here is an extract from the WIRRAL GLOBE dated 12th February 2008

LAUNCH DAY: MP Ben Chapman has presented the National Lottery Awards for All' plaque to Bob Gurney, President of Port Sunlight RUFC. A £10,000 lottery grant is to be used by the Wirral rugby club to expand its efforts to get children off the streets and into sport.

Port Sunlight Rugby Club's Sport Against Crime' initiative was praised by Wirral South MP Ben Chapman when he launched the community project at the club's headquarters at Leverhulme Playing Field, Bromborough, on Saturday. Mr Chapman was approached by the rugby club for support in their application to Awards For All, the lottery grant scheme for local communities, for funds to develop their Sport Against Crime' initiative. They were successful and were recently awarded £10,000, which will allow the club to employ qualified sports and play coaches to develop young people's life skills.

The initiative started out as a recruitment drive to attract newer, younger members but as the club, celebrating its centenary this year, started to engage with young people they realised that tag rugby, suitable for both girls and boys, would be an ideal way to get more children interested in the sport and keep them off the streets. A successful pilot scheme has evolved over the past two years after Port Sunlight RUFC became involved with six local schools, introducing them to Tag Rugby - a fast moving, non-contact sport. Said Ben Chapman: "The initiative has everything - it gets youngsters into sport, with all the health benefits that brings, and keeps them away from the temptations that can lead to incidents of anti-social behaviour."

Tony Hotchkiss, Port Sunlight RUFC's community development officer, added: "Sport is the perfect way to keep young people out of trouble because it can give them a sense of self worth. It also gives them an opportunity to stimulate themselves mentally and physically. "We are all grateful for the support we have had from Ben Chapman prior to our applying to Awards For All and are pleased he and many others are able to join us for the launch."

The new grant will enable a further six primary and five secondary schools who want to become involved. In addition to the coaching hours there will be an opportunity for volunteers involved with the schools and club to attend training courses in rugby coaching, refereeing, first aid and sport management. Through contacts made with the club during the development of this project, Port Sunlight RUFC have also supplied Tag Rugby equipment to British forces serving in Basra, Iraq - 215 Squadron and a school in Sri Lanka where an ex-PSRFC club captain is now living.