BAILDON Rugby Union Club have been highly commended in the community engagement category at RFU president Jonathan Dance's annual awards ceremony.

Club president Dr Mark Purvis and rugby development officer Robbie Hill were representing the club at the Twickenham luncheon prior to the England v Barbarians match, with the award going to Canterbury from the six nominations.

However, Baildon have also been chosen by the RFU to receive a £10,000 lead-up and legacy transforming social spaces grant, which is part of a £25,000 refurbishment of the clubhouse, including a new bar.

Work is currently underway by many volunteers and a refurbished Baildon Rugby & Cricket Clubhouse will be officially opened during the Baildon Carnival, which is hosted by Baildon Rugby & Cricket Club, on Saturday, July 11.

The RFU want to cash in on hosting the World Cup by committing £10million to create over 500 lead-up and legacy centres, which has also included Bradford Salem.

Baildon's house and grounds committee chairman John Bowdery said: "We are delighted that our project has been chosen as a recipient for a transforming social spaces grant.

"We will now have some of the best facilities in the area that people from Baildon and surrounding areas can use.

"The 2015 Rugby World Cup will inspire a new wave of people of all ages to become involved in rugby and this RFU investment will really help our club to be even better equipped to welcome newcomers and visitors alike."

Baildon chairman Phil Wilson added: "John has organised and encouraged an enthusiastic group of hard-working volunteers and this funding will enable them to do even more for young people in the community in the future."

The SSE Yorkshire Division Three club have been developing their community rugby programme over the past 18 months, enhancing their relationship with local secondary schools as Hill has delivered curriculum and extra-curriculum rugby sessions for both boys and girls.

For example, Baildon's satellite girls' rugby programme at Titus Salt School on Saturday mornings has grown from one girl attending to having 14 registered at the club.

The players have also attended their first girls' rugby festival, while club member Charlotte Gilligan has also been recognised as a runner-up in Sport England's Satellite Participant of the Year awards.

Boys' rugby has also been a focus for Baildon and over 100 children from local schools have played at the club.

Community rugby in the village has also been supported by Shipley Town Council via a youth opportunities grant, while tag rugby has had an enormous upsurge.

This has grown from being played in two local schools to seven, which has involved over 700 primary school children, thereby boosting the club's junior section.

However, the club have not just stopped at working with the juniors as they have also held free touch rugby sessions for adults and juniors on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, which have been attended by over 40 players.

Baildon have also taken their touch rugby show on the road, while for the very young there are Rugby Rascals sessions for three to six-year-olds.