💬 Well done, pal. I know how much you put into that & how much it meant to you…..💬

“Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer.”

What does that genuine and authentic friendship feel like…

Supporting your goals – 

‘’That’ll never work, such a stupid idea, don’t waste your time – I’m just being realistic though’’ – Do these feel familiar? It’s not about blind loyalty and saying everything will be great when there isn’t a solid plan behind things. It’s about hearing and seeing your friend, understanding their motivation for going for this goal and identifying what role you can play in helping them achieve it.

Laugh with, not at – 

This is an interesting one. Yes, 100% it’s not about laughing at a pal when they may feel insecure or vulnerable about something (don’t know if they feel insecure or vulnerable? Ask them, in a kind and simple way). Still, at the same time, as humans, we’re social animals, and that level of interaction is vital to building connections and relationships.

Of course, in the traditional clubhouse environments, jokes at the expense of teammates and pals are commonplace, and may this continue. But it MUST be with permission and not to the detriment of anyone. Feel like this isn’t happening? May want to question that friendship.

Feeling seen & heard – 

This is HUGE. You might not understand what your pal is going through or even understand what they’re saying – but just being there, engaging in active listening and playing back the things you’re hearing can make a world of difference to a pal. You don’t always have to agree with everything they say, but helping them feel seen and heard can make a huge difference in moving through a challenging situation.

Support you to feel safe – 

Yes, this is about physical safety, too, but it is mainly about emotional safety. Knowing you can talk to your friends about the confusing things in your head that you don’t understand and know you want to be judged or gossiped about is what it’s all about. Communicate that you don’t expect your pals to have all the answers but just be there to help you work them out.

Things to be curious about…

❓How does it feel to have a friend support you like that?

❓How does it feel when they don’t?

❓Do you expect every friend to respond in the same way?

We’d love to hear your comments and hear what you think 👇

Feedback

 

What’s stopping you from giving feedback?

This is a great article on biased feedback. not something I’d really considered before!

https://www.radicalcandor.com/blog/biased-feedback-protective-hesitation/?utm_source=Radical+Candor+Newsletter&utm_campaign=413a8bb884-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_09_11_08_21&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-413a8bb884-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&mc_cid=413a8bb884&mc_eid=4d425bcdb9

 

The Speakeasy Bench: 

Our mission is to place a Speakeasy bench in every community sports venue in the world.

Sport has the undeniable power to not only enhance lives but save lives too. We’re not supposed to know everything that goes on inside our heads, being curious helps us to identify where we belong, and understand what our clubhouse, looks & feels like.

That’s where the Speakeasy bench comes in.

Each bench will have a QR code, that once scanned, takes you directly to your online clubhouse, where you can access amongst other things, free well-being resources for you and your teammates. There is a story behind how each bench is built, and now is the time to tell your story.

Check out our mission below:

Dragons Community programme: 

The dragons community team are doing some truly brilliant things across Newport and Gwent as a whole.

The team engage with a wide array of

Mental Health in Rugby: 

TACKLING MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH DRAGONS COMMUNITY AND OUR PARTNERS

Dragons Community aims to tackle mental health throughout its Community and Inclusion provisions with the support of key partners and agencies.

No one should have to face Mental Health problems alone, so mental health is at the heart of our work to raise awareness and promote understanding of mental health.

Dragons support listen up, speak up:

Listen Up, Speak Up.

We’re supporting #ListenUpSpeakUp from the NSPCC, helping adults know where to go for support and how to speak up for children who need it, so all of us can play a part in preventing child abuse.

Whether or not children are a big part of your everyday life, the NSPCC is encouraging adults to take 10 minutes to learn:

• What to look out for when a child needs help.
• The steps to take if you’re concerned about a child.
• Where to go if you, or someone you know, needs support.

Take 10 minutes to help a child HERE

Women’s & Girls Rugby:

The WRU Hubs are girls only rugby environments, with age groups ranging from U9s up to U18s. This friendly, non-competitive and welcoming space allows girls to try rugby and develop their skills with a range of formats from tag, touch and contact.

Hub rugby is based in the Spring/Summer months which allows light evenings for training, more rugby being played and more time for BBQs and family get togethers! The Hubs aim is to give every girl a positive rugby experience and give them a format of the game in which they can enjoy and thrive!

As the Welsh Rugby Union believe there is a Jersey for All!

There are four amazing hubs located in the Dragons region: The Jesters, Chargers, Knights and Arrows. So come and try our game!

CLICK HERE to find out more

Outreach and Inclusive rugby

Dragons are continually looking at alternative Outreach Rugby provision to widen the rugby landscape and to engage with rugby enthusiasts from all walks of life.

We are aiming to provide a diverse range of opportunities, so everyone can enjoy playing or learning through various forms of the game #JerseyForAll.

Through the vehicle of our provisions, we endeavour to positively impact on people’s lives within our region.

Dragons Education: 

Using the power of Rugby as the catalyst to inspire and educate our regional youngsters is important to us at the Dragons Community.

We aim to provide inspiring opportunities to raise aspirations, whilst also reaching out to young people who may be disenfranchised and/or lack motivation towards mainstream education.

Dragons Phoenix:

The Homeless Rugby Team is a walking/touch rugby team made up homeless or previously homeless people and was established in the 2015/16 season. The team has gone from strength to strength, providing many memorable moments and we are very proud of this provision.

In consultation with our players, coaches & partners, we have re-branded to ‘Dragons Phoenix’, which takes away the stigma of the name ‘Homelessness’ from our participants now that they are playing regular fixtures.

Wheelchair Rugby:

Wheelchair rugby is fast-paced, high-octane, highly addictive and the only full-contact Paralympic sport, it is open to men and women with a physical impairment and paraplegics.

Train, play, make new friends and keep fit in this great team environment. Be a part of the Dragons Wheelchair Rugby team and bring your fire.

For further information contact Karen Burgess on [email protected]

On X @Dragonswcr 

Walking Rugby:

Walking Rugby, supported by ABUHB and sponsored by Centerprise International, takes place every week at the home of the Dragons.

As our Walking Rugby provision continues to expand, we are exploring opportunities to run satellite centres in our communities.

#JerseyForAll #WalkandTalk #MentalHealth

Dragons Equality: 

Dragons RFC celebrates equality, diversity, respect and inclusion. We place huge importance on tolerance and equal opportunities for all.

We are committed to confronting and eliminating discrimination whether by reason of age, gender, ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marital status or civil partnership, ability or disability, pregnancy and maternity.

Rugby is for everyone. It belongs to, and should be enjoyed by, anyone who wants to participate in it, whether that is as a player, official, member of staff or spectator

Dragons Autism support: 

Dragons RFC launched a brand-new Autism provision within our Community department in October 2021.

The new provision takes place indoors at Risca Rugby Club for children aged 5-16 every Wednesday from 5pm-6pm.

The sessions will be run by fully qualified and experienced autism rugby coaches and will be filled with fun engaging activities that include mini games and soft play.

Dragons Visually Impaired:

Our Visually impaired provision takes place indoors at Risca Rugby Club every Wednesday from 5pm-6pm, alongside our autism support programme.

For further information contact Karen Burgess on [email protected]

Sporting Memories:

The Dragons Community have partnered with Centerprise International to drive forward our Sporting Memories Wales initiative, using the power of sport to engage with people living with dementia, depression or are socially isolated.

Sporting Memories Wales work with communities and organisations to promote the mental and physical wellbeing of people over 50.

Military & Veterans support:

The Dragons are proud to support their military and veteran family with ticket initiatives at our Dragons RFC matches at Rodney Parade to enjoy the match day atmosphere.

For more information on the Military & Veteran Support offered at Dragons RFC email [email protected]

It’s not always straightforward to spot the signs in someone who is struggling, nor is it easy to spot the signs in ourselves either.

We wanted to share some videos, resources and information that may help you be curious about what signs can look like in different people. Also, to help you recognise some of those feelings you may be feeling, and that you don’t understand.

If you find anything that’s helped you we’d love you to share it and comment below ⬇️

Movember – How to spot signs of poor mental health

The Charlie Waller Trust – Spotting the signs

Homecare – Spotting the signs

mind – Depression signs & symptoms
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/depression/symptoms/

Young minds – Signs & symptoms

Men’s Health magazine article – Spotting the Signs of depression in Us and Others
https://www.menshealth.com/uk/mental-strength/a26441606/signs-of-depression/

Head above water – spotting the signs of depression
https://hatw.co.uk/spotting-the-signs-of-depression/

Dr Julie – 1-minute video on the signs of depression

Supporting your children:

As parents, all we want to do is keep our children and the young people in our lives safe.

We don’t have all the answers for them.

Nobody has brought up your child, at this time, with your considerations.

There are some superb organisations & resources out there that can support you navigate the challenges together.

Young minds

YoungMinds is the UK’s leading charity committed to improving the emotional well-being and mental health of children and young people. Driven by their experiences we campaign, research and influence policy and practice.

They also provide expert knowledge to professionals, parents and young people through their Parents’ Helpline and online resources.

NSPCC – Supotting the signs in your children

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/childrens-mental-health/depression-anxiety-mental-health/

Active listening:

❔How much do you actively listen when in a conversation with someone?

❔How often do you feel like the person you’re talking to, is listening to understand you, rather than just to respond?

❔How often do you feel the person you’re talking to is genuinely interested in what you’re saying, and how do they show that?

Active listening can be a HUGELY beneficial tool in our toolbox for life, work and sport.

5 benefits of active listening…

1️⃣ Active Listening Builds Trust and Strong Relationships.

2️⃣ Active Listening Can Help You to Resolve Conflict.

3️⃣ Active Listening Prevents You From Missing Important Information.

4️⃣ Active Listening Enables You To Identify or Anticipate Problems.

5️⃣ Active Listening Helps You To Build a Deeper Connection

5 examples of active listening techniques …

1️⃣ Noticing (and using) non-verbal cues

2️⃣ Asking open-ended questions to encourage further responses

3️⃣ Paraphrasing and reflecting back on what has been said

4️⃣ Listening to understand rather than to respond

5️⃣ Withholding judgment and advice

We would love to hear your thoughts on active listening.

Our mission is to place a Speakeasy bench in every community sports venue in the world.

It’s human nature to crave that sense of belonging to something. A sense that we’ve lost over the last few years. Working with community sports venues across the world, we aim to create a focal point for people to come together and connect through the sport.

That’s where the Huddle bench came in.
Sport has the undeniable power to not only enhance lives but save lives too. We’re not supposed to know everything that goes on inside our heads, being curious helps us to identify where we belong, and understand what our clubhouse, looks & feels like.

Each bench will have a QR code, that once scanned, takes you directly to our online clubhouse, where you can access amongst other things, free well-being resources for you and your teammates. There is a story behind how each bench is built, and now is the time to tell your story.

Click here for more information

• Why should you have a Speakeasy Bench at your venue?
• FREE QR codes leading to FREE online Mental health resources
• Each bench can have the colours of your venue
• It stands out and shows it’s ok to be different
• Got a bench at your venue already? Paint it pink and we’ll send you the QR codes!
• It’s a safe place for people to talk and share stories
• Get creative & build your own Speakeasy bench, Picnic bench, garden seat, tall table in the back bar. Whatever works for your venue.

Check out the video below for more benefits…..