‘COMMITMENT and community spirit’ helped a team from a council youth project conquer Mount Snowdon – raising nearly £1,000 for the Rugby Autism Network in the process.
Members of Rugby Borough Council’s On Track team, and young people who have worked with the project, scaled the highest peak in Wales – known locally as Yr Wyddfa – during a recent two-day residential trip to Snowdonia.
Setting off from the Snowdon Llanberis youth hostel, the team took six-and-a-half hours to climb the 1,085-metre peak – and smashed the original fund-raising target of £500 by nearly doubling it.
On Track co-ordinator Kevin Brookes said the team chose to raise money for the Rugby Autism Network to raise awareness of autism and support the charity’s work.
The network was presented with the King’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2023 for its work in the borough supporting autistic people and their families.
Kevin said: “By taking on this challenge together, the On Track team proved that, with commitment and community spirit, young can people can make a real difference.
“With generous donations from family and friends, we’re delighted to have nearly doubled our fund-raising target to support Rugby Autism Network’s vital work.”
Launched in 2013, On Track works in schools, youth clubs and communities across Rugby, running structured sport and recreational sessions, mentoring programmes and workshops dealing with issues which affect young people.
The team hosts weekly sessions at youth clubs in Brownsover, Long Lawford and Overslade, and designs and delivers education programmes for school pupils who face barriers to learning, with the aim of keeping pupils in mainstream education.
On Track’s trained sports coaches, youth workers and mentors have also developed strategies to help pupils deal with complex issues such as bullying, low self-esteem, aggression and concerns over mental health.
Visit www.rugby.gov.uk/OnTrack for more information.
Visit www.justgiving.com/page/ontrack to donate to the Snowdon charity trek.
Visit www.rugbyautismnetwork.co.uk for more information on the Rugby Autism Network.
