Launched by the Rugby Football League (RFL) after being awarded £660,000 from the Youth Endowment Fund, this programme over a two year period will help prevent young people from getting caught up in violent crime through work in the classroom, local community and with their families.
The programme is delivered from eight Super League charitable organisations, using the power of sport to help support and engage young people aged 11-14 in an early-intervention scheme.
Our Vision
The Inspiring Futures programme is made up of three strands: Educate, Aspire and Connect.
Educate will see coaches from the trust deliver assemblies in local secondary schools in identified areas to children aged 11 to 14.
The sessions will use messages and media from Huddersfield Giants Rugby League players to promote self-esteem, communication, teamwork and well-being. Coaches will also work alongside these schools to run 12-week mentoring programmes to support young people who the pastoral/ leadership have identified that may benefit attending the programme.
Aspire will use a sports-based programme to develop the life-skills and confidence of young people. We will provide consistency for young people in leadership, support life lessons, play and engage through sport. This will help create changes within their behaviours.
Connect recognises the importance of strong family relationships in preventing young people engaging in crime and violence. We will support young people and their family members with strategies to strengthen relationships, develop resilience and improve communication.
The Youth Endowment Fund will evaluate the impact of the RFL’s Inspiring Futures programme and share the learning to support further early intervention projects across England and Wales.
Thomas Brindle, Head of Growth at the Rugby Football League, adds: “Rugby League Foundations are a force for good in communities often facing multiple disadvantages and challenges. This partnership brings together seven teams’ charitable foundations in an ambitious two-year programme to change the lives of some of the most vulnerable young people across the North of England. We’re thrilled the Youth Endowment Fund will fully evaluate this programme, so we can add to our learning and understanding around the impact Rugby League makes to individuals and communities.”
The Youth Endowment Fund supports and evaluates promising early interventions working with 10 to 14-year olds in England and Wales to prevent youth offending. It was established with an endowment of £200m over ten years from the Home Office. A total of 23 early intervention projects have now been awarded funding, totalling £17.1m and reaching over 36,000 children.
To learn more about Inspiring Futures programme please contact, Taryn Reynolds
