Clarkson McLeod has been appointed the new Head of Community of the Avery Fields Community Foundation in Edgbaston.
McLeod, a 27-year-old New Zealander who previously worked as a primary school teacher, has moved to Avery Fields from Stourbridge RFC where he was a Rugby Development Manager employed by the Community Group.
The Community Group is owned by former Coventry hooker Matt Price and runs an extensive series of community programmes at clubs across the country including National Two West club Bournville where Price has recently been appointed Head Coach.
Avery Fields is Bournville’s home ground but the 15-acre site hosts a wide and varied programme of community initiatives that will now be overseen by McLeod. Those include school holiday multi-sport camps under the Government’s Holiday Activity and Food programme for children who receive school meals.
“It’s a wide-ranging role with a lot of moving parts but it’s something that I’m really passionate about,” McLeod said.
“There is already a strong base at Bournville which has a one club mentality. It doesn’t matter whether you are playing for the minis, the first team, the women or the Under-18s, we are in it together and playing for the same badge.
“There are opportunities for everyone to be involved whether it’s matchday engagement, open days or club socials. I am really keen to push that side of things.
“Another big project is having more influence in the local schools to help grow the mini and junior section of the club. That can only be a positive because by growing the mini and junior section we are bringing more players through who might progress into the senior sides further down the line.
“At Avery Fields we don’t just run rugby camps, we run multi-sport camps which provide opportunities for youngsters to try various different activities.
“We are also part of the HAF programme which was brought in by the government and provides children who receive free school meals with the chance to come down to the club, do multi-sports in the morning, have lunch and then do arts and crafts in the afternoon.
“We run the HAF camps during the summer, Easter and Christmas holidays so we can make sure that the children eat healthily when they are not at school and that are active and engaged.”
Avery Fields, in Sandon Road, was the former sports ground of the Avery Scales company which had lain derelict for more than a quarter-of-a-century before it was given a new lease of life six years ago.
The site now has a state-of-the-art artificial pitch plus two full-size grass pitches, a modern clubhouse with large function room, a physiotherapy suite and impressive changing facilities.
McLeod, who can play any position across the front-row, played for Stourbridge last season but now intends to join Bournville and play a major part in the growth of the club.
“I want to get fully involved in the club. I don’t see it as just a nine to five Monday to Friday job, with something like this when you are involved in a community sports club it has to become a big aspect of your life,” McLeod said.
“As I am going to be based at Avery Fields for four or five days a week it makes sense for me to play my rugby there.”
Clarkson can be contacted via clarkson.mcleod@community-group.co.uk