Church campaign 'in hub of Rugby World Cup activity'  

Engage 2015, a campaign to help UK churches serve the rugby community during the World Cup later this year, has secured a central London location.

From the start of the year Engage has been based at the Free Churches Group in Tavistock Square. The new headquarters ‘will ensure the campaign can remain in the hub of activity during the build-up to and throughout the global showpiece event,’ said a statement on its website.

Backed by the denominations and many of the organisations involved with More Than Gold, the response by UK churches to the London 2012 Olympic Games, Engage aims to provide churches with “inspiration, information and resources”, as well as build relationships between the church and the rugby community.



‘With a rapidly growing team, Engage knew it was essential to secure central London office space for the campaign’s success, and are delighted a deal could be struck with the Free Churches Group,’ continued the statement.

‘Discussions opened in early November before an agreement was reached to secure the London HQ, which will facilitate team members and volunteers throughout the campaign.’

Staff moved in on 5 January and will remain there until the end of the tournament, which takes place over six weeks in the autumn. There will be 48 games across 13 venues, with an estimated half a million fans from more than 100 nations.

Baptist chaplain David Chawner co-ordinates Engage. He said, ‘Here is another golden opportunity for the church to engage with a national event and with its local community as it did around the Olympics. Engage 2015 is here to help, providing a menu of ideas and resources many of which can be built into existing activities.

‘Irrespective of limitations on resources there will be ways in which your church can link into your community during RWC 2015.’

He explained that Engage has a good working relationship with the tournament delivery body, England Rugby 2015, and is looking to provide hosting for participants’ families, chaplaincy to the squads, games pastors and volunteers.

At the local level there will be opportunity to develop partnerships to screen matches, host community festivals, experiment with touch rugby, stage quizzes and speaker events, minister to locally based squads and their supporters, and much more.
 
Visit www.engage2015.co.uk