I’m an ex rugby player and passionate about sport; not just for the obvious physical benefits, but also in how the ethos and life skills can be transferred from the pitch to the boardroom.
We value sport as a key vehicle for our charity work; as part of our team development and generally as a force for good. We continue to build on the legacy we created through our sponsorship of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow through initiatives such as the Dell Management Challenge; and our most ambitious project to date: The Dell Festival of Touch Rugby.
Last week Dell UK hosted the inaugural Festival of Touch Rugby in aid of Action for Children. One hundred twenty disadvantaged children played throughout the day, learning the values associated with sport and its ability to change lives. We partnered with HITZ Rugby, Beyond Sport and England Touch to increase these young peoples’ resilience, self-reliance and confidence.
The Dell, local and sports community really got behind us by providing volunteers, guest speakers in the form of ex-international rugby players and charitable donations. Just seeing the smiles on the faces of the children who took part and the change in their demeanor from the morning to the finals in the evening made all of the team’s hard work worthwhile.
One of the highlights of my day was seeing the children get their hands on and experience our technology. It’s a rare treat to see just how ‘cool’ our technology is and the part it plays in getting these children interacting with the world around them. Their laughter was infectious and their engagement with the technology on show as part of our support for ‘Inspire IT’ one of Action for Children’s many programmes really helped start bridging the digital divide we see in disadvantaged communities.
Dell believes in looking beyond our walls to inspire and transform the communities we serve. Last week’s event was proof that sport can be the force behind this transformation. Just take a look at the faces in this picture!
