Help get Joe to Hartpury College

 

Hi, my name is Joe, I am 16 years old and currently doing my GCSEs at Thurston Community College.

 

My passion is Rugby, and my dream is to become a professional rugby player,

I have been playing rugby since I was 6 years old for Bury St Edmunds Rugby club from tag rugby to Mini’s to Youth’s.

 

I have only played at club level as my current school doesn’t have a rugby team and therefore, I have only ever had the opportunity to play for my local club which I absolutely love but feel I may not have come across the same opportunities that perhaps other players have had.

 

Having to now make a decision of what I want to do with the rest of my life after leaving school I can only ever imagine doing what I love the most and that is playing rugby. 

Having sought some advice and looked into all options I came across Hartpury College in Gloucestershire and decided to go to an open day as I had heard so many great stories and achievements from other students that have attended there. To say I was blown away was an understatement. So, I decided to follow my dream and apply for the courses and the rugby academy.

 

To my absolute delight I have been accepted and given a place to start in September 2023 to do a BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in rugby. 

I have also been selected to attend the pre-season rugby camp in June with the hope to be selected into the main academy.

 

The facilities and coaching alongside the education offered at Hartpury are amazing and will give me the best opportunity to improve my ability, skills, and knowledge to move forward with my passion, and hopefully achieve my dream. I would be in the best environment to receive player development of the highest standard with some of the best coaches and players in the country in my age group.

I am dedicated and focused to do whatever this takes to make it happen.

 

The course at Hartpury College is a 2-year programme which is free, however in order to be able to attend the college I have to pay for my student accommodation on site as it is over 3 ½ hours away from my family home in Suffolk.

 

Unfortunately, I don’t qualify for the residential bursary fund which is provided by the government because there is a similar course at my local college, and I live within 10 miles of this course.

However, the opportunities offered to me through Hartpury with their facilities and coaching are just not comparable or achievable through my local college. I believe Hartpury will give me the best chance to succeed in my ambition of not only being a top-class rugby player but also to follow my dream of playing International Rugby for Ireland.

 

So, this is why I am asking for some help which is something I have thought long and hard about, but I have no option if I want to follow my dream. Unfortunately, my parents are not in a financial position to enable them to afford to pay for the accommodation. My father is disabled from an injury at work and my mother is a self-employed carer working full time caring for her elderly parents and uncle, which means our household income does not support the additional costs needed to pay for the accommodation.

 

I truly believe given the correct coaching and facilities I can reach my goal, dream and passion.

 

I’m hoping to raise funds through my go fund me page to help me achieve this, as the yearly accommodation costs are £6600, but any donation would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

 

Joe