Fairplay Rugby Initiative Drives On

Young people excluded from mainstream education are making the most of FairPlay, the rugby-based initiative supported by Barclays Spaces for Sports.

A number of young people gathered at Hackney Community College in London this week to compete in a rugby tournament, with Jason Leonard OBE looking on, to celebrate the success of the programme to date.

The initiative is aimed at changing the attitudes, enthusiasm and lives of more than 2,400 ‘at risk’ youngsters in Pupil Referral Units through a series of training schemes across the country.

Children’s charity Wooden Spoon teamed up with Barclays Spaces for Sports, the Rugby Football Union and Enterprise Education Trust to launch a series of eight-week schemes combining both physical rugby training and classroom learning including life, enterprise and financial skills.

The coaching programme is provided by RFU Community Coaches, while the classroom element is delivered by Enterprise Education Trust trainers who have links with Pupil Referral Units, schools and business mentors throughout the country. 

There are around 35 projects across England at present.