Rugby For Heroes
Rugby For Heroes is a UK-registered charity (Registered Charity: 1140439) founded in 2011 in Gloucester that supports military veterans and serving personnel within 24 months of discharge to transition into civilian life through accredited Level 2 ERCA rugby coaching qualifications, quarterly financial grants, mental well-being support, and employer networking events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersGloucester, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Rugby For Heroes does
Rugby For Heroes is a UK-registered charity (Registered Charity: 1140439) founded in 2011 and headquartered at the Blackbridge Community and Sports Hub in Gloucester, England. It supports military service leavers and veterans transitioning to civilian life through three core pillars: accredited rugby coaching (the Transition Through Rugby course delivering a Level 2 ERCA qualification recognised across UK rugby clubs), career development (Beyond the Uniform employer networking events across energy, construction, logistics, defence, and recruitment sectors), and mental well-being support (including mental health first aid training within the coaching curriculum). A quarterly reviewed grant programme provides direct financial assistance for business startups, further education, or post-injury bills, with case study data showing support for individual veterans such as Chris Tandy.
The organisation operates with 1–10 employees and no proprietary technology platform. Its build is a service-based delivery model: in-person 6-day Transition Through Rugby courses delivered at the Blackbridge Sports Hub, supported by an annual Lee Cole Memorial Match, peer-to-peer fundraising challenges, and signature events such as the HMA Tax Polo Event. The technology layer consists of a Wix-hosted website, social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok), a JustGiving donation integration with Gift Aid support, and a Google Forms course-booking pipeline. Governance is provided by a board of trustees; the chairman is Simon Bailey, and high-profile patrons include Mike Tindall MBE and Nick Knowles.
Revenue is generated entirely through charitable giving: individual donations and peer-to-peer fundraising via JustGiving, corporate sponsorship (main sponsor Howard Tenens, plus Xansium, HMA Tax, Barclays, Cluberly, Blackeye Gin, JHA Architecture, and Altrad), proceeds from fundraising events, and gifts-in-kind such as signed memorabilia auctions. A core strategic partnership with the Rugby Football Union enables the nationally portable coaching qualification, and a branded consumer product (Blackeye Gin) routes a portion of sales to the charity. All services to veterans are provided free of charge, and the customer base is exclusively non-paying beneficiaries (UK veterans and serving personnel within 24 months of discharge), making donor and sponsor concentration the primary commercial risk factor.
Rugby For Heroes firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rugby For Heroes
- Legal name
- Rugby For Heroes
- Website
- https://rugbyforheroes.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Rugby For Heroes is a UK-registered charity (Registered Charity: 1140439) founded in 2011 in Gloucester that supports military veterans and serving personnel within 24 months of discharge to transition into civilian life through accredited Level 2 ERCA rugby coaching qualifications, quarterly financial grants, mental well-being support, and employer networking events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rugby For Heroes industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Veteran Support Services
- NAICS
- Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cause, Community & CSR-Linked Sports Partnerships (Foundations, Youth Programs) (MPAKALAJ), Rugby (Union & League) Leagues (MPAKAAAG), Club Sports Programs (EDALAIAB)
Keywords
Where Rugby For Heroes is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gloucester
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Rugby For Heroes business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations: Individual donations received through JustGiving platform and direct contact. The organization is registered as a charity (1140439) and accepts donations to support its mission of helping veterans transition to civilian life.
- Fundraising Events: Community fundraising through events including charity challenges, fundraising dinners, charity matches, and peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns organized by supporters.
- Grant Programme: Rugby for Heroes operates a grant programme to provide financial support to servicemen and women during transition. Grants are reviewed quarterly by trustees and can support business startups, further education, or covering bills post-injury.
- Corporate Sponsorship: Support from corporate sponsors including Howard Tenens, Xansium, HMA Tax, Barclays, Cluberly, Blackeye Gin, and JHA Architecture who provide financial and in-kind support for events and programmes.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Rugby For Heroes product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rugby For Heroes is a UK-registered charity that assists military veterans transitioning to civilian life by providing accredited rugby coaching qualifications (Level 2 ERCA), financial grants, career development support, and mental well-being resources. Its flagship Transition Through Rugby course is delivered in person at the Blackbridge Sports Hub in Gloucester, with programmes funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorship, and community fundraising events.
Product overview
Rugby For Heroes is a charitable organization offering a portfolio of interconnected services designed to support veterans transitioning from military to civilian life. The core offerings include the Transition Through Rugby (TTR) Course, which provides a Level 2 ERCA coaching qualification, the Veterans Grant Programme for financial assistance, the annual Lee Cole Memorial Match, Fundraising Support resources, and Beyond the Uniform networking events that connect veterans with employers. Volunteer Committees (Events, Media, and Operational) support the delivery of these services. The organization functions primarily as a service-based charity rather than a technology product company.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Transition Through Rugby (TTR) Course A nationally certified Level 2 ERCA (England Rugby) coaching qualification programme delivered to service leavers and military personnel. The course covers coaching principles, people skills, self-awareness, project management, teamwork, and mental health first aid, enabling graduates to coach at any rugby club across the UK.
- Veterans Grant Programme Financial support programme providing grants to servicemen and women during their transition from military to civilian life. Grants are reviewed quarterly by trustees and can be used to start a business, undertake further education, or cover bills during post-injury recovery.
- Fundraising Support Resources and guidance for individuals and groups organising charity challenges or events to raise money for the charity, including advice on JustGiving integration, Gift Aid eligibility for UK donors, and social media campaign promotion.
- Beyond the Uniform Networking Events Recurring business and veterans networking events connecting Transition Through Rugby course participants with employers from sectors including energy, construction, logistics, defence, and recruitment to facilitate veteran employment pathways.
- Lee Cole Memorial Match Annual memorial rugby match honouring Lee Cole, a veteran who was instrumental in the charity's early days. The event celebrates his legacy and contribution to supporting fellow veterans through rugby.
Quantifiable outcome
- Veterans receive nationally recognized Level 2 ERCA rugby coaching qualification enabling employment at any rugby club in the UK
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Rugby For Heroes
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Rugby For Heroes technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Rugby For Heroes partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Rugby Football Union (RFU)corePartnership with the Rugby Football Union to support veterans in gaining a nationally recognized Level 2 ERCA rugby coaching qualification. This qualification can be utilized at any rugby club throughout the UK, providing direct employment pathways for veterans.
- Howard TenenscoreMain sponsor of Rugby For Heroes. Howard Tenens Logistics hosted the Beyond the Uniform business and veterans networking event at their Swindon headquarters. Quality-focused independent family business providing logistics and collaboration services.
- XansiumminorCorporate sponsor providing innovation and secure, scalable software solutions across private and public sector. Supports Rugby For Heroes mission.
- HMA TaxminorSponsor specializing in property capital tax allowances. Hosted Rugby For Heroes as beneficiary charity at HMA Tax Polo Event at Beaufort Polo Club in the Cotswolds, featuring a three-team tournament and charity auction.
- BarclaysminorUK-centred leader in global finance and corporate sponsor supporting Rugby For Heroes. Works towards better financial future for customers, clients and communities.
- CluberlyminorSponsor dedicated to aiding sports clubs, schools, and charities across the nation. Provides support for Rugby For Heroes initiatives.
- Blackeye GinminorThe Unofficial Spirit of Rugby. Crafted by rugby legends Mike Tindall, James Haskell, and broadcaster Alex Payne. Award-winning London Dry gin with proceeds supporting Rugby For Heroes mission.
- JHA ArchitectureminorHighly skilled team of professional architectural and surveying consultants with extensive experience in construction industry sectors. Corporate sponsor of Rugby For Heroes.
- AltradminorGlobal leader in industrial services and major force in world rugby. Donated signed All Blacks and Black Ferns rugby memorabilia to be auctioned to fund Transition Through Rugby courses.
- Adjacency Recruitment GroupminorRecruitment company that participated in Beyond the Uniform networking event. Recognizes veterans as exceptional hires with highly transferable skills and exceptional mindsets.
- Veterans Welfare GroupminorVeterans support organization. Dean Philips serves as Armed Forces Lead and Rugby For Heroes ambassador, supporting personnel through transition and discharge process.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Rugby For Heroes competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Forces in Mind Trust: Funded by a LIBOR fine, this trust funds research and programmes enabling ex-Forces to transition to civilian life; a potential grantor/funder peer in the same transition outcome space.
- Royal British Legion: Large established UK charity providing welfare, employment and community support to serving personnel, veterans and their families; competes with RFH for veteran transition funding and donor mindshare at a much larger scale.
- SSAFA: Long-standing UK Armed Forces charity delivering personal support, housing, and employment help to veterans; an incumbent in the same beneficiary segment with overlapping employment-transition services.
Direct peers
- Walking With The Wounded: UK charity supporting ex-military personnel into employment, mirroring RFH's career development pillar and competing for employer-partnership funding.
- Combat Stress: UK charity specializing in mental health treatment for veterans, addressing one of RFH's three pillars (mental well-being) and competing for the same veteran support donations.
- Help for Heroes: UK military charity supporting wounded veterans with recovery and transition services; the closest direct peer in the veteran transition space, sharing the same beneficiary base and donor pool as Rugby For Heroes.
- The Forces Employment Charity (RFEA): Specialist charity helping ex-Forces into employment; overlaps directly with RFH's Beyond the Uniform networking events and grant-funded business startup support.
Emerging players
- Matt Hampson Foundation: UK charity supporting people seriously injured through sport, with strong rugby community ties; a comparable niche sports-cause charity leveraging rugby networks for fundraising.
- Wooden Spoon: The children's charity of rugby, using rugby's community to raise funds for disadvantaged children; comparable cause-linked rugby charity model, though serving a different beneficiary group.
Regional players
- Scotty's Little Soldiers: UK military charity supporting bereaved children of personnel; comparable small charity using military community networks for service delivery, though in a different sub-segment.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Rugby For Heroes social profiles
Digital presenceRugby For Heroes financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rugby For Heroes leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Rugby For Heroes funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rugby For Heroes M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Rugby For Heroes
What does Rugby For Heroes do?
Rugby For Heroes is a UK-registered charity that assists military veterans transitioning to civilian life by providing accredited rugby coaching qualifications (Level 2 ERCA), financial grants, career development support, and mental well-being resources. Its flagship Transition Through Rugby course is delivered in person at the Blackbridge Sports Hub in Gloucester, with programmes funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorship, and community fundraising events.
Is Rugby For Heroes a public or private company?
Rugby For Heroes is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Rugby For Heroes founded?
Rugby For Heroes was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Rugby For Heroes based?
Rugby For Heroes is headquartered in Gloucester, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Rugby For Heroes make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are fundraising Events, grant Programme and corporate Sponsorship.
Who are Rugby For Heroes's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Forces in Mind Trust, Royal British Legion and SSAFA. Direct peers are Walking With The Wounded, Combat Stress, Help for Heroes and The Forces Employment Charity (RFEA). Emerging players are Matt Hampson Foundation and Wooden Spoon. Scotty's Little Soldiers is listed as a regional player.
Does Rugby For Heroes have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rugby For Heroes.
What industry is Rugby For Heroes in?
Rugby For Heroes's product category is Veteran Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAJ, Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits, with a secondary code of MPAKALAJ, Cause, Community & CSR-Linked Sports Partnerships (Foundations, Youth Programs). Its NAICS code is 813 and its SIC code is 8300.