Outreach Impact this Autumn

Across this Autumn we have seen a number of schools access our outreach programme Tackle LIFE to support their young people. Using rugby’s core values, Tackle LIFE is designed to support students who are struggling in mainstream education.

Each academic year our team work with some of Bedfordshire’s most vulnerable students. Alongside key partners including the Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Bedford Borough Council, the programme aims to boost confidence so each young person can thrive in school.

Read some more about some of our students:

Student A

When student A was recommended to Tackle LIFE, he had a clear lack of confidence and want to get involved. Through a series of workshops and sporting activities which at the start he was apprehensive to get involved in, he started to show keenness to get involved and even implement his own ideas to the team.

We set out some SMART goals, and even after such a short time we can really see Student A working towards his goals positively. Through 1:1 mentoring we have seen great improvement in confidence, communication and his willingness to improve in school.

Student B

Student B hasn’t been in mainstream school for the last few months through issues with mental health and confidence with an attendance under 30%. In already a short period we have seen her attendance rise which is something she set out she wanted to improve, with the end goal being in a full day at school.

Her engagement in all Tackle LIFE sessions especially the sports activities has been a massive shift in her mindset, she is now very keen to get involved in team games, her self-esteem is improving weekly and is getting more comfortable within bigger groups. We know that with these ongoing sessions and the individualised 1:1’s we will help Student B fulfil her goals and help her keep on improving to reach her full potential.

Student C:

Student C had already been moved on from different schools and has been showing lack of respect to teachers and students. We had seen that in certain groups he would act up to impress others. So, through smaller grouped work we set out SMART goals that we are helping student C work towards.

In workshops and sporting activities we have an improvement in his respect towards others and been very impressed with his engagement. Through his 1:1’s he has mentioned a strong passion for the gym and personal training in future, we have been in touch with a local gym owner who has set out what skills and qualifications he will need. He has reacted positively to this with feedback of a want to get better in school.