HALIFAX PANTHERS FOUNDATION
ABOUT US
The Halifax Panthers Foundation (the Foundation) is the charitable community arm of the Halifax Panthers Rugby League Club. Still in its infancy, the Foundation is building strong local roots and a growing its network of partnerships to shape its role as a force for good across Calderdale.
Despite being a new organisation, we are guided by a clear vision—Panthers for Everybody—and a belief that rugby league can be a catalyst for positive social change. We are committed to building capacity, credibility, and impact step by step.
Our early work has focused on engaging communities through inclusive sport and education initiatives.
Vision
Panthers for Everybody
Supporting our communities to reach their potential, embrace inclusivity, and create a lasting positive impact.
Strategic Aims
Strengthen Community Relationships
Expand our reach across Calderdale, embedding the Panthers brand as a symbol of unity, respect, and opportunity.
Deliver Impactful Programmes
Provide high-quality, inclusive projects across sport, health, education, and social engagement.
Ensure Organisational Sustainability
Develop robust governance, funding models, and operational processes to support long-term growth.
Champion Inclusivity & Accessibility
Actively promote equality, accessibility, and belonging across all programmes and partnerships.
Focus Areas
Delivery will be structured around three pillars of activity:
Sport and Physical Activity
Pillar 1 Rugby League Development
We are committed to growing Rugby League at all levels. We will work with community clubs, schools, further and higher education institutions, and the Rugby Football League (RFL) to ensure there are clear opportunities and development pathways for new participants to access and thrive in our game.
Pillar 2 Health & Wellbeing
We are committed to using the power of Rugby League to support the physical and mental wellbeing of our communities. Through a series of targeted initiatives, we will deliver accessible and impactful programmes across Calderdale, promoting healthier lifestyles and positive mental health.
Pillar 3 Social Inclusion & Community Engagement
We believe in the power of sport as a catalyst for positive social change. Through our inclusive and community-focused programmes, we aim to break down barriers, strengthen local connections, and support personal development across all age groups.
Our Partners
Rugby Football League
Sport England
Active Calderdale
West Yorkshire Consortium
Local schools and academies
Calderdale Cares Partnership
West Yorkshire Integrated Care
West Yorkshire Police
Youth offending and early intervention teams
Sir George Martin Trust
West Yorkshire Mayors Fund
PROJECTS
Getting Match Fit
Over the last 6 months, the Halifax Panthers Foundation has been delivering its Getting Match Fit programme across Calderdale. The project is aimed at raising awareness for Primary school children around Digital and Community Safety. The project is delivered across a 4-week period and has so far engaged with 750 children.
Feedback has been really positive;
Shelf Primary School – from teacher Lindsay Grix and some children:
“I really enjoyed the Halifax Panthers workshop. Isaac, who ran the classroom-based sessions, had a positive approach with the children. He quickly made a point of learning all of their names (all 32 of them!) His expectations were high and his sessions were informative. I really enjoyed the pace of the lesson which provided the children with ample opportunity to reflect and converse with peers.Â
Each lesson built on prior learning from the previous lesson really helped the children to embed the skills and reiterate the importance of having a positive mindset and building positive relationships.
The PE lesson/introduction to rugby skills was a great way to finish the project. The children had a great time even the rain didn’t put them off.
“AK said. “It was a lovely experience and it was fun to play a new sport. I like how Isaac and Nathan were both kind and understanding.”
“AH said, “I love that there are people who are going around schools teaching kids to be kind and respectful.”
“HD said, “I loved learning about teamwork!”
“PG said, “The sessions were memory making, the teamwork was fun.”
The Foundation still have some capacity on this project, so if your school is interested, then please contact John.keyes@halifaxpanthersfoundation.org
RUGBY LEAGUE
RUGBEES
Girls as young as five years old are being bombarded by messages and labels that undermine their self-belief, crush their confidence, and make them feel as though sport is not a place for them, hearing and seeing messages on a daily basis which imply they are not as good as boys, and they don’t belong in sport.
‘You tackle like a girl’ – is a phrase we want to make history, the future of rugby league has no gender, just future stars!
Our RugBees programme is aiming to tackle these stereotypes and redefine what Rugby League means to girls. RugBees is our exciting programme aimed at girls aged 7 to 11 which will offer a fun introduction to rugby league, developing skills and confidence in an environment designed to help young girls thrive. Weekly sessions will be delivered in partnership with our community clubs with no need for memberships just a small fee per session.
The sessions are £2.50 and run for one hour, coached by elite coaches ready to build confidence and develop skills.
If you would like to involve your community club or players, please contact the foundation.
SCHOOL DELIVERY
Halifax Panthers Foundation work with primary, secondary and special schools to develop rugby league skills and to maximise the positive impact that high quality physical education, school sport and rugby league can have on young people.
As a charitable foundation we inspire and motivate young people in PE and sport through high quality sessions and coaching that encourages children and young adults to be active and healthy. Our qualified coaches develop and support children and young adults to increase their confidence, skills and knowledge of rugby league to inspire them to play the sport outside of the school environment as well as partake in rugby league development training and games within their school curriculum.
The primary school programmes work in 6-week blocks and can be active lunch time sessions or after school club sessions. Both are a great way to get involved in rugby league or develop more skills if already playing the sport.
The secondary school sessions can either be curriculum based during a normal PE session or after school, with most secondary schools running tournaments through out the academic year and producing some good quality teams.
Our school partnerships include:
INSPIRED BY 9S
Inspired By 9s is a Rugby League offer for emerging schools in the secondary sector. It sits on both the School Games and Schools Rugby League competition structures. It is a playing opportunity for Year 7, 8 and 9 pupils for schools and players that don’t play regular Rugby League or that are new to the game. The 9s competition gives players the opportunity to play 9-a-side Rugby League in local Level 2 School Games 9s festivals delivered by Halifax Panthers Foundation and Rugby League Foundations under the School Games competition format. The Level 2 festival winners from each area are invited by the Rugby Football League to take part in the Inspired By 9s Level 3 finals events in both the North and South regions, representing their area in a central RFL competition with tiered progressions throughout the event.
From Calderdale we had excellent teams emerge from this event and competing in the finals at Warrington.
To enter your secondary school into the competition please contact the foundation.
PRIMARY RUGBY LEAGUE WORKSHOPS
Halifax Panthers Foundation are pleased to announce a FREE Primary Rugby League Coaches Workshop.
The workshop is suitable for anyone interested in coaching at Primary School Level (U7-U11) and aims to provide coaches with knowledge and understanding of the ethos, rationale, and rules of Primary Rugby League while also upskilling coaches in their delivery through use of Primary Rugby League resource cards.
All attendees will receive a FREE Primary Rugby League resource pack upon completion of the workshop as well as a certificate.
Those coaches that have attended CPD workshops in previous years are not required to attend.
To book on please email the foundation
SOCIAL TOUCH RUGBY
Social touch rugby is a minimal contact version of Rugby League. This variant is open to any aged player, with any fitness level or sporting ability. The main difference between touch rugby and the traditional sport is that tackles are made by a removing a tag from the player’s belt.
We think there is a better way to getting fit and active, burning calories, building muscle tone and having fun with your friends without having to be a member of a gym.
If you want to get involved in playing touch rugby, then you’re in the right place!
Touch rugby is non-contact (a two-handed touch is as rough as it gets), so you shouldn’t get hurt, it is a great way to have fun, improve your fitness and meet people.
Men and women of all abilities, fitness levels, shapes, sizes and ages are welcome.
If you don’t know the game, don’t worry, you can pick it up quite easily and have some good fun and laughs along the way. We have new people coming along most weeks and you don’t need to commit to coming every week, just play if and when you can – you’ll love it.
Coming Soon
The Lions Development Programme – boys year 7 – 10
Community to Pathway – girls years 7 – 10
Contact us; trustees@halifaxpanthersfoundation.org
Address; The Shay Stadium, Shaw Hill, Halifax, HX1 2YT
