Team Durham’s Men’s and Women’s Rugby teams are proving the power of teamwork beyond the pitch. Through volunteering at community gardens, food banks, and heritage sites, they’re tackling local challenges and inspiring others to join the VolunTEAMing movement. Their efforts show how sport can drive real, lasting change while strengthening bonds between students and the community.
The power of sport extends far beyond the pitch, and Team Durham's rugby players are proving it one volunteer shift at a time. Across Durham, both the Women's and Men's Rugby teams have been trading their training kits for gardening gloves, work gloves, and hi-vis vests, dedicating their time and energy to community projects desperately in need of extra hands.
From overgrown community gardens to food banks struggling with demand, these athletes are discovering that the teamwork and determination that drives them on match day can create something even more powerful: real, lasting change in their local community.
When the usual volunteers at Trimdon community garden could no longer maintain the allotments, the Women's Rugby team stepped up. This volunteer-run community garden exists to support local residents in managing plots together, sharing in the harvest of fresh vegetables and building connections. With raised beds designed for accessibility, it's a space where gardening novices and experts alike can learn, share skills, and enjoy the company of like-minded people.
But without regular maintenance, that vision was at risk. Surrounded by overgrown beds and neglected vegetable patches, the Women's Rugby team got stuck into the urgent work of weeding and caring for plants.
"The usual volunteers aren't able to do it anymore, so it's in desperate need of weeding and looking after all the plants and vegetables," explained one team member, taking a brief break from her work in the soil. "We've had a lovely time, but we could really do with more people coming down and helping to get it all ready for the community."
Meanwhile, the Men's Rugby team delivered what Harry Burch described as "probably the most productive and successful volunteering day ever" across multiple sites, each with its own vital community mission.
The team dedicated time to the local food bank, supporting The Bread and Butter Thing, a vital service that brings nutritious, affordable food directly into the heart of communities facing food insecurity. Every week, this mobile food club provides fresh fruit, vegetables, fridge favourites, and cupboard staples to families who need them most. But with over 90% of their operation relying on volunteer help, the demand for support is constant.
At The Auckland Project in Bishop Auckland, the team contributed to a regeneration charity working to transform a town affected by economic decline following the demise of the mining industry. The project is establishing Bishop Auckland as a cultural destination through arts, heritage, and community engagement, with profits reinvested into building a brighter future for the area. Their nine rugby players worked tirelessly, raking grass and digging up unwanted saplings with the same determination they bring to match day. The results spoke for themselves: 20 bags filled with cut grass in just three hours, the most ever recorded after a summer cut, achieved in record time.
The team also rolled up their sleeves at Stockton Road Cemetery, clearing graves, removing brambles and ivy, and helping to maintain this important historical site.The impact didn't go unnoticed. Sharon, senior gardener at The Auckland Project, praised the team's attitude and work ethic: "What a great bunch of lads and they really got stuck in." Also, at The Bread and Butter Thing's warehouse, they joined the 90% volunteer-powered operation that keeps nutritious, affordable food flowing to families across the region's most deprived communities.
These volunteering sessions highlight a crucial reality: our local community organisations are facing a volunteer shortage. Gardens fall into disrepair, food banks struggle to meet demand, and vital community spaces risk closure, all because there simply aren't enough hands to help.
This is where Team Durham can make an extraordinary impact. Sports teams already understand teamwork, commitment, and the satisfaction of achieving goals together. Those same qualities translate perfectly to community volunteering, where the rewards are just as meaningful, if not more so.
Whether it's maintaining green spaces that bring communities together, supporting food distribution services that tackle food insecurity, or preserving historical sites for future generations, every hour volunteered creates ripples of positive change.
Team Durham is calling on all sports teams to consider dedicating just one session to volunteering. The benefits flow both ways: communities receive much-needed support, while teams build stronger bonds, gain new perspectives, and experience the profound satisfaction that comes from serving others.
The rugby teams have shown what's possible when athletes channel their energy and team spirit into community service. The question is: which Team Durham sports team will step up next?
If your team is interested in getting involved with volunteering opportunities in the Durham area, there are countless organisations ready to welcome your energy and enthusiasm. Please get in contact with student.volunteering@durham.ac.uk to find out more!
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