This International Women’s Day we celebrated our fantastic nation-wide injured players, staff, supporters, fundraisers and allies who help us to create an equal society which is free from bias, stereotypes and discrimination.
Today we shine the spotlight on a few of those women whose work directly supports the RFU Injured Players Foundation, catastrophically injured players and challenges social stereotypes
Karen Hood, Head of the IPF, played a key role in setting up the IPF. Karen works closely with trustees and staff to ensure the IPF runs effectively and efficiently, fostering strong working links with other charities and sports national governing bodies in the UK and internationally to share ideas, research and best practice.
Judy Metcalfe, Miriam Duffy, Aideen Steed and Hannah Farrell volunteer their time as trustees of the charity. Experts in their own fields of teaching, events and PR; neurological rehabilitation and physiotheraphy; major trauma and neurotraumatology, they ensure the IPF is run well and has the maximum impact possible to its beneficiaries. To find out more about the Trustees please click here.
Caroline Searight, Client Services Manager, oversees all client support programmes, and as an occupational therapist has worked in local authorities and health related organisations. She has developed fantastic relationships with local authorities and NHS providers enabling injured players to reach their full potential. We featured Caroline as part of World OT day in October. Click here to read more.
Helen Hobbs and Nicky Ellis, founders of Hobbs Rehabilitation, lead a team of experts who support injured players with rehabilitation for mobility, speech therapy, occupational therapy assessments and review care packages ensuring that injured players have the best care and equipment to live as independently as possible. Services are provided mainly at Oaksey House and Bristol Intensive Neurotherapy Centre where they have the latest developments in neurotechnology. To find out more visit: www.hobbsrehabilitation.co.uk.
Dani Czernuszka-Watts, one of our injured players, constantly challenges stereotypes. A personal trainer, strength and conditioning coach for Rams RFC, and keen sports woman having recently taken up ice hockey, has since her injury sailed to Antigua and completed the 2021 London Marathon. She’s raised over £8000 for the IPF through her marathon campaign.
Jane Woodman and Jemma Sanders, two fantastic fundraisers, have since 2016 have raised over £10,000 for the IPF. This dynamic duo are running the London Marathon in October 2022, spreading the word about the IPF’s work across the rugby community through bucket collections at locals matches, golf days and themed fundraising nights at their clubs.
These are just a few of the tremendous women who help make the IPF what it is today. To find out more about the work which the IPF do please visit www.rfuipf.org.uk/about.
