MADDY'S MARK

because not all battles are fought on the pitch

We are Maddy’s Mark, the charity (number 1200071) we established to remember Maddy Lawrence and raise funds in her name to promote positive mental health and wellbeing in young women, through the sport of rugby.  

Maddy sadly passed away in March 2022, aged just 20, after suffering from a rugby injury, whilst playing for UWE, her university rugby team. Despite a courageous fight in hospital, Maddy tragically died of sepsis, two weeks after her injury. She was bright, loving and sporty, described by friends as a shining light in their lives. Within our close and small family she certainly filled our lives with laughter and joy.

In this extraordinarily difficult time, we take comfort in all the good that Maddy has done in her short life and the many people who were touched by her kindness, generosity, and love. It is our dearest wish to continue Maddy’s legacy by forging ahead with the charity we have set up in her name, Maddy’s Mark, which supports the cause she held closest to her heart, young women’s mental health.

In just 18 months as a charity, Maddy’s Mark has been able to commit funds to bring rugby to over 2,000 girls, having donated just over £55,000. It is so beneficial to their physical and mental health. Women's rugby, with its inclusivity and team spirit, not only provides challenge and fitness, but also helps to build self-esteem, long lasting friendships, and a sense of belonging. With your help and inspired by Maddy and all that she stood for; we will be able to help many more girls into all that this sport can give.

And how are we supporting this cause?
By fostering and building young women's confidence, self-image and self-belief through the values of the rugby community.

And by focusing on the standards of teamwork, mutual support and fellowship to help young women harness their own boldness and resilience.

Because not all battles are fought on the pitch.

To donate please click here to go to our Just Giving page
About Us image
Donate image
To donate please click here to go to our Just Giving page
Or just open up the camera on your smart phone and point it at this QR screen - you’ll be taken directly to Maddy’s Just Giving page.

What we're doing image
Maddy’s Mark and Bristol Bears Community Foundation have joined forces to launch the next phase of the Eagle Project. The 2-time parliamentary award winning programme aims to introduce the game of rugby union to girls in year 7 with the intention of supporting longer term engagement and transition to local clubs.
“A meeting with Simon from Maddy’s Mark very much highlighted the synergy between the work of Bristol Bears Community Foundation and the values of Maddy and her family” said Community Development Manager Craig Capel. “We are extremely grateful for the support of the partner charity in helping to fund a girls' rugby programme at a time of need across our region. The movement in RFU age grade boundaries for girls makes the Eagle Project very relevant in supporting teams across the combination to develop junior girls' sections. We all look forward to celebrating the impact of the programme with our friends from Maddy’s Mark.”

Maddy’s Mark was established to remember Maddy Lawrence and raise funds in her name to promote positive mental health and wellbeing in young women, through the sport of rugby. Maddy sadly passed away in March 2022, aged just 20, after suffering from a rugby injury, whilst playing for UWE, her university rugby team. Despite a courageous fight in hospital, Maddy tragically died of sepsis, two weeks after her injury. She was bright, loving and sporty, described by friends as a shining light in their lives. Simon Lawrence from Maddy’s Mark said… “Maddy loved Bristol, so she would be so delighted that her love of rugby could be passed to the next generation. We would like to thank Bristol Bears for their huge help in making our commitment to these young women possible"

The Eagle Project aims to assist clubs in the Bristol region by introducing rugby during curriculum PE sessions at school sites, followed by a festival at a local club to celebrate student engagement and support transition. Please contact Geraint Lewis for more details – glewis@bristolbearsrugby.com



With the London Irish partnership, we will deliver a 12-week programme with the aim of engaging girls aged between 15 to 18 years into education and business using the vehicle of rugby.
During our programme, not only will there be an introduction to rugby but there are also 4 presentations / company visits, which will take place by experts and professionals in their field of education and career development. The aim is to create further avenues into prospective employment.
Three schools such as The Mathew Arnold School will provide 10 students from each school for the project.
The students are chosen by the teachers at each school, as they know their needs and requirements.
Our project is concentrating on
Core Values and Leadership
Resilience
Social Media including entrepreneurial skills.
Marketing and Communications, including networking / relationship-building and problem solving.
Apprenticeships and Work Experience

To donate please click here to go to our Just Giving page


We are delighted to announce our latest project will be with Exeter Chiefs.
Our partnership will work with 6 Secondary Schools (Girls Only Groups), working with 4 classes of 100 to 120 girls.
This means 600 to 720 girls will be receiving 6 weeks of high quality rugby coaching sessions
And most importantly, we are also in partnership with Give A Ruck mental health charity to offer mental health workshops
Finally, one large festival to promote/fundraise for Maddy’s Mark and celebrate the programme.

With funding from Maddy’s Mark, the Harlequins Foundation would seek to deliver 6 weeks of sessions to girls aged 11-14 from across the Harlequins Heartlands. In total we would seek to engage 525 participants in Switch using an introduction to Rugby, followed by Mental Resilience Workshop & Barriers to Inclusion Workshop, and finally touch rugby games, programme reflection and transition support.
All the participant schools would then be invited to a festival of fixtures at The Twickenham Stoop, as a
celebration of women and girls rugby.
Maddy's Mark is now also contributing to a Bursary Fund to support female participants within rugby, this would include but not be limited to:
• Bursary fund to support underprivileged programme participants to support with costs associated with Rugby, for example, rugby boots, club registration costs and travel.
• Experiences fund to support with providing wow moments to girls new to the game, an example of this would be tickets to Big Game at Twickenham or attendance to a women’s fixture.
• Coaching fund to support women and girls to gain coaching qualifications to take on positions of leadership within the sport.

Maddy’s Mark are delighted to be partnering with the Saracens Foundation, supporting their ‘Women & Girls Participation’ project. They now are able to launch their first ever project that specifically targets increasing girls’ participation.
Our donation will be utilised to provide playing opportunities for girls in their local community. Delivery will have an equal focus on in-school engagements to upskill and introduce the game to more participants, utilising festivals at local clubs to help transition potential new players into their local clubs. Across Hertfordshire, the project will engage at least four schools that are in the closest proximity to six identified community clubs with well-established U12 and U14 girl’s teams. Each school will be offered two in-school sessions during PE lessons with all participants subsequently invited to a festival at their local club. At Saracens Foundation and Maddy's Mark, we are firm believers that one of the most captivating aspects of team sport, especially rugby, is the sense of community and support. By facilitating new players to experience a club atmosphere whilst participating festivals, the aim is to establish as many successful transitions from school participation to registered club players.


Maddy's Mark is excited to be in partnership with Bath Rugby Foundation, where we aim to make a difference in the lives of girls (aged 8-10 years-old) by growing confidence and acceptance in themselves and provide an opportunity for girls to represent their school in rugby and join their local rugby club.
Bath Rugby Foundation will deliver 5 weeks of rugby-based sessions for 3 x schools linked to a targeted grassroots rugby club in BANES and Somerset. The last week will include a festival hosted at the identified local grassroots club.


With our alliance with Wasps FC, we want to increase female rugby participation by providing the opportunity for children from minority groups and different socio-economic backgrounds to experience rugby, by further reducing the barriers to participation by building on the link between schools and Wasps FC club.
Wasps FC will create and implement a 6 week schools programme for Girls Rugby, delivering in four separate schools in the local area with mental health workshops and high quality rugby coaching.
Furthermore Wasps FC will host a schools festival for those four schools with a Red Rose in attendance.

To donate please click here to go to our Just Giving page

In the media image
Maddy's Mark first Information Film
 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8xbid4r3tbt0b7j3lcwm0/Maddy-s-Mark-Film.mov?rlkey=k5m83vrtgzl62iw1jp88urvcl&dl=0 

March 2024 Sky News Interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWXYRrnellw&t=1078s

March 2024 Shine Radio Interview Link
https://omny.fm/shows/petersfieldstories/an-update-from-petersfield-charity-maddys-mark

22nd May Shine Radio Link
https://omny.fm/shows/petersfieldstories/the-growing-womens-rugby-charity-based-in-sheet 


5th November ITV Interview