Borders golf day raises £1,500 for inclusive rugby sessions

Efforts to widen sport participation for neurodivergent children and young people have been boosted with a donation to the Harris Trust.

The Scottish Borders District Union (SBDU) was formed in 2024 to bring together rugby clubs at all levels in the region and also work collaboratively with a wide variety of partners across the Borders to improve and enhance rugby’s ability to grow and strengthen communities.

Jane Macdonell receives a cheque for the Harris Trust before the recent Premiership game between Melrose and Ayr, from Rob Moffat (Melrose RFC), Keith Robertson (SBDU), Douglas Livingston (SBDU) and Scott Forbes (SBDU) after the recent SBDU Golf Day fundraiser.

placeholder image — Jane Macdonell receives a cheque for the Harris Trust before the recent Premiership game between Melrose and Ayr, from Rob Moffat (Melrose RFC), Keith Robertson (SBDU), Douglas Livingston (SBDU) and Scott Forbes (SBDU) after the recent SBDU Golf Day fundraiser.

The SBDU held a golf day recently at Minto Golf Club, featuring representatives from most rugby clubs as well as local businesses. With sponsorship from Belhaven and Jedburgh firm Footeprint, the event raised £1500 for the Harris Trust.

The Trust was launched five years ago following the death of Harris Macdonell, an enthusiastic local rugby player and musician. It seeks to raise awareness of and provide training around mental health and neurodiversity, support the provision of music, outdoor and sporting activities, and support the development of mentoring and peer support programmes for young people.

Douglas Livingstone, SBDU Honorary Treasurer, said: “The values of the Scottish Borders District Union are community, inclusion and collaboration, and there are few charities that live those values better than the Harris Trust.

“We are delighted to be able to provide support to the charity and Jane Macdonell and the team behind all the work they do, because we know it will have a real impact in enabling more people to become involved in the rugby community across the Scottish Borders and, therefore, feel part of their local communities.”

Jane Macdonell, the charity founder, said: “We would like to thank the SBDU and all the golfers that took part in their 2026 event from clubs, business and other rugby backgrounds for their generous donation to the Harris Trust.

“This donation will help us to continue providing mini rugby sessions for children 7-13 years who are neurodivergent or have other difficulties that make mainstream sport difficult. We train all our coaches, many of them young people between 15-21 years, to be able to deliver autism friendly sessions. The sessions are held at Selkirk RFC and we hope to expand our model to other clubs.

“We look forward to continuing to work closely with the SBDU and clubs across the Borders in the years to come.”