HKCR AND KELY SUPPORT GROUP CELEBRATE 13 YEARS OF SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP IN YOUTH OUTREACH

Hong Kong China Rugby (HKCR), organiser of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, and KELY Support Group (KELY) continued their long-standing collaboration at the weekend’s 50th Anniversary edition of the tournament at Kai Tak Stadium. The partnership is dedicated to ensuring the wellbeing of young attendees at the event by providing essential support and promoting critical harm reduction messages.

Enhanced Presence: New Service Desks Drive Greater Youth Engagement

To further optimise effectiveness at the venue, SOSKELY introduced two additional service desks on Level 5 of the stadium. This strategic expansion from the 2025 provision made the team more approachable, allowing them to engage directly with youth in high-traffic areas. By positioning services closer to the heart of the action, SOSKELY was able to reach young people more effectively and distribute vital resources. 

Wellbeing and Support Initiatives: 2026 Impact Data

Over the three-day  tournament, a 60 strong outreach team, comprising SOSKELY staff and 41 volunteers was mobilised, contributing a collective total of 464 service hours. Rigorous pre-event training ensured that the entire team was equipped to uphold the organisation’s ethos of non-judgmental support and commitment to youth care. 

Key achievements included:

• Hydration Initiative: Approximately 5,300 cups of water (1,325 litres) were distributed, a significant 51.4% increase (450 litres) over last year. This proactive hydration effort was critical in preventing dehydration, especially among those who had consumed alcohol
• Engagement and Awareness: The SOSKELY team engaged 4,857 participants across their interactive chill-out zones and service desks. The team distributed 6,750 souvenirs featuring messages such as "It’s okay to take a break" and "Look out for your squad," successfully demonstrating the "prevention-to-referral" SOSKELY outreach model
• Intervention Aid: SOSKELY assisted four intoxicated youths, providing immediate care and referring them to on-site first aid. The placement of two dedicated service desks on Level 5, a primary gathering point for young fans, allowed the team to focus their support where it was needed most.

Community Feedback and Leadership Comments

One young attendee noted, “The vibe at the Level 5 desk is amazing! It’s so much easier to find them this year right where the action is. They don’t just give out water; they actually listen and make us feel like we belong here. It’s great to have a spot in the stadium that feels totally safe and chill.”

Louis Hou, Executive Director of KELY Support Group, stated, "We are deeply grateful for Hong Kong China Rugby’s unwavering support over the past 13 years. This partnership provides a vital platform at the Hong Kong Sevens, which allows our outreach team to engage with youth closely and directly. By distributing water and promoting alcohol-free activities, we aim to raise awareness of binge drinking risks and provide practical harm reduction. We remain committed to ensuring every young attendee has access to a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental environment."

Michael Kerrisk, General Manager of Rugby Events at Hong Kong China Rugby, added, “We are really pleased with this continued collaboration, and thank the KELY Support team for their diligent planning and delivery across the three-day weekend. With a record crowds at this year’s anniversary edition, we are delighted that the work carried out by KELY Support and their proactive teams of volunteers, helped ensure that we had low and manageable levels of incidents related to alcohol.”