Ospreys in the Community staff and Ospreys players joined more than 20 BT Cymru Wales staff at Bonymaen RFC last week to help give the clubhouse a facelift.
Every year BT give their staff, of which there are more than500 based in Swansea, three days out of the office to volunteer, and the strong links between the communications giant and Ospreys in the Community led them to put their heads together to find a worthy project in Ospreylia.
It was decided that Bonymaen RFC, a club that has helped form so many rugby players across the decades, including OitC Ambassador Alun Wyn Jones, deserved a deep clean and mini makeover.
Ben Koscian, Programme Director at BT, on the Volunteers Day:
“Volunteering plays a big part in the BT ethos and we’ve been working closely with Ospreys in the Community to see how we can work together for the good of the community.”
“Bonymaen RFC was a great opportunity and we’re delighted that so many of the team were able to volunteer their time to help such a good club. I think the link between BT and Ospreys in the Community is fantastic and there’s opportunity to do more in the future .”
The whole clubhouse was given a spring clean and the lounge, entrances and bar were all given a fresh coat of paint. The ladies team, who were Division 3 champions last season, were also given a surprise with their team room receiving a complete makeover and tidy.
Paul Whapham, Foundation Manager Ospreys in the Community commented:
“It’s been great for the Ospreys in the Community staff to join the BT volunteers at Bonymaen today. The club are incredibly supportive of both the Foundation, and Ospreys Rugby, so it’s nice to be able to play a part in both organising and doing something to repay that support. It was so nice to see everyone working so hard together to do something to benefit Bonymaen and we’ll be looking at ways in the future we can do other volunteer days to help benefit the community around our region.
“B&Q in Swansea were incredibly kind and donated the supplies that were needed and Subway also gave a huge discount on food to keep the workers going all day. We’re also grateful to the Ospreys players Rory Thornton and Rhodri Jones, who came down after training and mucked in to help get the job done.
Gareth Lewis, Director of Bonymaen RFC remarked on the makeover at his club:
“It’s a remarkable change. I came in at 9am and people were already cleaning the place before they started painting. The transformation within 6 or 7 hours, well I just can’t believe it to be honest. The BT and Ospreys in the Community staff have made a great team and there’s been lots of banter. It’s been great for the club because it certainly needed the lift and we’re very grateful to both BT and OitC.”