Craig Shepherd reflects on first year as Foundation CEO

A little over one year ago, Hull KR Foundation recruited a new CEO to lead the organisation into a period of growth and stability, following the pandemic.

Craig Shepherd was CEO for the Community Foundation for Wakefield District when the opportunity presented itself to join Hull KR Foundation, and was initially lured by the potential for growth and a chance to support the communities he’d grown up in, for the club he had supported since he was four-years-old.

“I know that my grandparents took me to a couple of games before the core of my memories kick in but I recall being a Junior Robin, a mascot against Carlisle and Wigan, and being an older teenager stood at the top of the East Stand joining in with all the chants. I used to go home and away for a period of time too, and to plenty of the ’A’ team games, nowadays known as Reserves. It didn’t matter if we were in the top division or the third division, we just loved to support the team through thick and thin.”

“Coming back to Hull, was very exciting for me personally. I’d earned a reputation as a leader who established change and created stability, so to be able to do the same at Hull KR and impact the communities that made me who I am today, was and still is an absolute honour.”

“It’s been an interesting first year, planting seeds and harvesting them. It’s the second year where things start to grow and the vision begins to take shape.

In 2017, Craig was appointed Head of Foundation for Wakefield Trinity Community Foundation and during his four years in post, implemented a community impact model that saw revenue turnover grow by 500% across that period.

In July 2022, he was appointed CEO of the official charity of Hull KR and continues to lead its ever-evolving vision, embracing the many opportunities presented by the new 3G pitch and commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.

The first 12 months of Shepherd’s tenure has also seen him build a strong and widely respected Senior Leadership Team who will help to shape and guide the sustained growth of Hull KR Foundation as the charity heads into an exciting period of development.

In September 2022, Gareth Young joined the Charity following a 24-year career in the Armed Forces as Head of Physical Development. He assumed a role as Head of Health & Wellbeing, driving forward opportunities for the local community to improve their physical and emotional wellbeing. Janine Badger also joined as Head of Social Inclusion and has formed a dynamic partnership with Gareth as they support people of all ages to be more socially included and guided down the right path. The ‘Get Inspired’ project, supports young people aged 8-19 years with regular physical activity and education workshops and was recently showcased at the Humber Violence Prevention Partnership Conference in Melton, East Riding of Yorkshire.

In January 2023, Shauna Jordan joined the team as Head of Education and Learning, supporting the Employability team while establishing the ‘Catalyst’ programme, which focuses on supporting disengaged young people, from local schools across the Humber region, who are risk of exclusion. Underpinning the programme are some key values such as Respect, Discipline, Teamwork, Sportsmanship and Understanding.

The first year was topped off when their ‘Teaming Up For Health’ collaboration with Hull FC Community Foundation, commissioned by the Humber & North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership, was nominated for a HSJ Partnership Award, held in London in late March 2023. The array of free-to-access projects that sit under the umbrella, follow the themes of; Tackling Obesity, Tackling Mental Health and Tackling Loneliness & Isolation.

Reflecting on the first 12 months in his position as the charity’s CEO, Craig Shepherd said:

“It’s an honour to be celebrating this milestone. I have seen this amazing charity grow and develop enormously over the last year during my time as CEO and whilst we’re so proud of how far we’ve come, we understand the importance of continuing to grow and evolve. I’m so excited for what lies ahead as we enter a new period of development, which will help us drive the charity forwards even further.

“We’ll hopefully see the 3G project come to fruition in the next twelve months, supporting the Marfleet community and surrounding wards with access to a facility that will help to improve their levels of physical activity and help to reduce loneliness and social isolation.”

“And as IMG continue to re-imagine the sport of Rugby League, the recent framework presents charities income levels as a measure of success and therefore we look forward to RL Commercial unlocking important CSR relationships that will benefit associated charities with valuable funds to continue to impact the local communities they serve.”