Sharks Community Trust are the latest partners to join Levelling the Playing Field to engage and support young people in custody and post-release through sport and physical activity.
Sharks Community Trust is the charitable arm of Premiership rugby union club Sale Sharks. Their coaching staff will be working with learners inside HMYOI Werrington in Staffordshire, then connecting the young people up with opportunities in rugby, training, apprenticeships and community organisations to support their successful transition back into society.
The new partnership is part of LtPF's initiative with prison education providers Novus which links up community sport organisations with the secure estate to include sport as a key part of young people’s rehabilitation and resettlement plans, engaging them in positive activities both in prison and post-release to reduce their chances of reoffending.
As part of the same project, Climb Unity are leading climbing activity in HMPYOI Wetherby in West Yorkshire and offering young people opportunities in participation and coaching qualifications post-release. Sports Connect are also operating in HMP Cookham Wood in Kent (with activity led by former GB sprinter Marilyn Okoro) and creating individual support plans which incorporate opportunities in sport (principally football) for each young person after they leave prison.
The Alliance of Sport have kickstarted the partnership with Sharks Community Trust with money secured through Sport England’s Tackling Inequalities Fund.
Des Howlett, Sharks’ Education Manager, cannot wait to get started. “The programme is based around life skills and rugby and gives young people a sense of motivation, purpose, self-esteem and self-worth,” he says. “This will help them achieve their aspirations once they leave prison, which we’ll support by connecting them into our rugby network, giving them opportunities and a sense of family and community.
“It’s so important to help young people make that first step when they finish their sentence. As we all know, if there’s nothing positive there for them, it can be very difficult for them not to regress back into the behaviour and choices that got them into trouble in the first place. You’ve got to keep them moving forwards.”
The project is part of Sharks Community Trust’s extensive work with NEET and vulnerable young people and their ambition to develop equality and diversity across their projects.
James Thomas, Sport and Enrichment Coordinator at Novus, said: “We are really excited to be working with Sale Sharks Community Trust to offer new and exciting opportunities for children at HMYOI Werrington.
“Sale Sharks Community Trust bring a wealth of experience with them and can add so much to the current curriculum. The project offers something different, both in terms of showing children new activities they may not have experienced before, but also a way in which they can continue these interests in the community.
“Resettlement opportunities are crucial with supporting children out of custody and the links Sale Sharks have, with the support of Levelling the Playing Field, can have a massive impact. I’m eager to see how this partnership can develop further.”
Levelling the Playing Field Project Manager, Rudro Sen, added: “We’re so excited to expand our network of partnerships with specialist sport providers working in youth justice settings. The more we strengthen these relationships, the more we can help young people make smoother transitions from secure establishments back into the community.”