Mid Argyll Rugby Club supporting youth development through Modern Apprenticeship scheme

Mid Argyll Rugby Football Club was established in 1978 by local enthusiasts, and operates as an unincorporated community organisation affiliated to Scottish Rugby. Based in Lochgilphead, the club provides rugby opportunities across Mid Argyll, serving members from age 3 to 70+. Following a period of disbandment due to lack of resources, the club was reformed and now has 453 members, including 263 playing members and 156 associates.

The club operates teams across multiple divisions: West Region League Division 3, Women's West Aspiring League, and combined Argyll youth teams. All coaching is delivered by dedicated volunteers who support the club's mission to promote rugby, fitness, and community cohesion in a rural area where recreational facilities are limited.

The Challenge
Mid Argyll faces significant challenges in providing structured youth activities and employment opportunities for young people. The rural location offers limited recreational facilities, with no cinemas or major leisure centres, creating social isolation particularly affecting young people, single-parent families, and carers.

School-age children had limited access to regular rugby coaching and development opportunities, despite growing interest in the sport following the club's reformation.

The region also struggled with youth employment prospects, particularly in community sport and youth development sectors. With one young person named Arran already demonstrating promise as a coach - having completed Level 1 rugby training and showing skill and maturity in working with primary-aged children - there was an opportunity to create a structured pathway combining employment and training for Arran, as well as community benefit.

Application
The total project cost to run the apprenticeship scheme was calculated at £15,264.60, based on national minimum wage for a 17-year-old (£7.55 per hour), plus employer National Insurance contributions (8%) and pension contributions (3%), totalling £293.55 per week over 52 weeks.

Mid Argyll RFC applied for £10,000 from the A'Chruach Wind Farm Community Fund to support the first year of the modern apprentice scheme. The club themselves committed £2,000 annually plus fuel costs, which would leave a funding gap of £3,264.60 which the club planned to source from existing sponsors and a major infrastructure company working locally.

Panel Consideration & Award Decision
The A'Chruach Wind Farm Community Fund panel awarded the full requested amount of £10,000, recognising the project's alignment with rural regeneration objectives and community engagement priorities. The panel noted the project's innovative approach to combining youth employment with community sport development.

What the project delivers
The modern apprentice project, through 17 year old Arran, delivers comprehensive rugby training sessions to primary and secondary school children across Dunadd, Lochgilphead, and West Loch Fyne, with potential expansion to other Mid Argyll areas. Aaron, already holding an SRU Level 1 Coaching Qualification, provides structured development programmes in partnership with Active Schools Mid Argyll. Aaron benefits from extensive professional development through Scottish Rugby's Community Engagement Team, including Level 2 coaching qualifications, a Level 6 Sports Coaching course through UHI, and a potential youth work qualification in year two. Training encompasses World Rugby and Scottish Rugby coaching qualifications, strength and conditioning, first aid, coach education, and refereeing qualifications.

MAYDS (Mid Argyll Youth Development Services) formally employs Arran, providing office space and insurance coverage, whilst Mid Argyll RFC provides direction, session planning support, and safeguarding oversight. Arran works under comprehensive policies including PVG checking and benefits from mentoring through Scottish Rugby's Development Officer Network and collaboration with existing apprentices in the region.

The programme targets approximately 470 participants, enhancing their physical fitness, teamwork skills, and mental health while fostering community cohesion in an area with limited recreational facilities. The award enables the apprentice programme to commence in August 2025, with UHI courses beginning in the autumn session. The panel appreciated the comprehensive partnership approach involving Scottish Rugby, MAYDS, UHI, and Active Schools, which demonstrated sustainable support structures for the apprentice's development. Letters of support from key stakeholders, including Alex Edmonton from Live Argyll (Active Schools), Fiona Kalache from MAYDS, and Stewart Milne from SRU West, reinforced the panel's confidence in the project's viability and community impact.

Final Thoughts - Broader Implications
This case study demonstrates effective community-led decision making that maximises project impact through strategic partnership working. The modern apprentice programme creates a sustainable model for youth development that other rural sports clubs could replicate, addressing both employment and community engagement challenges simultaneously.

The project's success lies in its multi-layered approach: providing career development for a local young person whilst delivering enhanced sporting opportunities for children across the region. By leveraging partnerships with national governing bodies, educational institutions, and local organisations, the initiative creates lasting change beyond the immediate funding period.

The apprenticeship model offers particular relevance for rural communities seeking to retain young talent while building capacity in essential community services, creating a legacy that extends far beyond the initial investment.

Read more about the Nadara A'Chruach Wind Farm Community Fund