Dallaglio RugbyWorks support young people between the ages of 12-18 who are experiencing school exclusion to ensure they aren’t left behind.
On average, 102 young people are excluded from school each week. Often having experienced childhood trauma, youth violence or multigenerational unemployment, these young people do not always fit into the mainstream archetype of a ‘perfect pupil’. In working with these students, the charity helps them in realising their potential for the future, ensuring they aren’t excluded from society in the long term.
We have been supporting the charity with a multi-year grant to extend their RugbyWorks programme in the Northeast, an area of high deprivation. By using rugby as an engagement tool to build trusted adult relationships, the team provide opportunities for young people to be more prepared for life after school. This includes providing employability opportunities such as a CV development and interview practice. As well as working with a variety of employers to provide ‘Career Taster Days’ to experience the workplace first hand, increasing a young person’s likelihood of being in employment, education, or training post-18.
Members of the SJP community have also supported the charity through skills sharing and volunteering their time to mentor young people in the programme.
Dallaglio RugbyWorks describe how they helped ‘Ava’:
Ava shared with her teachers that she felt suicidal and depressed and found it very hard to attend classes. Her teachers encouraged her to join the Dallaglio RugbyWorks, programme and the team worked to build up her trust so that she felt safe. From building those trusted adult relationships, Ava was able to disclose information on her home life which led to further support, including counselling.
Since joining the Rugbyworks programme Ava has flourished, her mental health has improved, she has become more resilient and teachers have reported 100% attendance in class where she is making good progress.
