Wrexham Community Club Wins Prestigious Sporting Award

A Wrexham community club which aims to get youngsters into sport and tackle antisocial behaviour, has been celebrating after scoring a Welsh national award.

Brickfield Rangers in the Community (BRIC), a well-established local club launched two years ago by Andrew Ruscoe, a Wrexham Glyndwr University student, has won Community Club of the Year 2016 award.

The prestigious gong was presented to BRIC at the end of April at a ceremony in Pontypridd, South Wales, by ‘Game On Wales’ – a professional body which aims to use the power of football to change lives and help disadvantaged young people.

Andrew, a PGCE student at Glyndwr University, set up BRIC in October 2014 with a vision of helping people in his local community.

Andrew said: “This is the first time the award has been won by a club in North Wales. We were sat on a table with Swansea and Cardiff City and then our name was called, so I think we have done fantastic.

“We go into the local community and help those who have had barriers up stopping them getting into sport, such as the expense. We use our skills to help get them into sport and some exercise and tackle anti-social behaviour.”

Andrew previously studied Youth and Community Work, at Wrexham Glyndwr University, and plans on studying a Masters degree in Sport Science from September to further his vision for the club.

He said: “This award is for everyone involved with BRIC and is due to all the support we’ve had from everyone including Mike Parry from FAW and Brickfield Rangers’ chairman Paul Hooson who put his trust and support in me.”

Andrew’s right hand-man Kalvin Williams, 18, who aims to follow in Andy’s footsteps and study at Wrexham Glyndwr University this year, has been involved with BRIC since it was first set up.

Andrew said: “I’m hoping Kalvin will take over from me, he is a great with the younger children and perfect for the role. We’ve had great support from Glyndwr University and hope to grow those links. Ultimately I’d like BRIC to work with their students to give them great experience of working in the community, and offer them life skills which I believe is really important.”

Wrexham Glyndwr University’s ground-breaking employability programme A Degree Of Responsibility (ADOR) has supported and enabled students to work alongside BRIC.

Lucy Jones, ADOR Project co-ordinator at Wrexham Glyndwr University, said: “We are delighted to be building a strong partnership with Brickfield Rangers in the Community and enhancing our student’s skills and confidence.

“It is fantastic to see our students working and helping others in our community making connections and strengthening networks.

“Our ultimate aim is to build sustainable social enterprises for the future.”