Leeds Rhinos Foundation have teamed up with the IGEN Trust Charity for a partnership that will further increase the charity’s work in providing support and opportunities for young people and help reduce the number of NEET young people in the city of Leeds.
The 'Inspiring Champions' programme, that will provide an extension of educational provision beyond the school curriculum, will be run as a number of six-week blocks over the next two years, using different themes to address issues that are faced by children growing up in areas of Leeds currently.
The Yorkshire and Humber region is currently second in the national table for NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) young people within Leeds contributing 22,900 (aged 16-18).
In order to reduce this figure, Leeds City Council working with different partners across the city aim to tackle the issues early, to provide children in primary schools with positive activities that will stay with them during their school lives.
Leeds Rhinos Foundation is working in partnership with IGEN Trust charity with the aim of contributing to the reduction of children becoming NEET later on in life, targeting those statistically more likely to fall into that category with early intervention at the key stage 2 age group.
Partnership Manager Dan Busfield commented on the programme:
“A child growing up in poverty, having attendance or behavioural issues in school, a troublesome family life or siblings who have struggled in the education system and have become dis-engaged as well as, Looked After Children are all early warning indicators that a child could potentially need some personalised interventions to support their development and ultimately reduce their chances of becoming NEET, so this is where the project will assist the Leeds City Council agenda in reducing this potential”
Some of the themes covered during the programme, due to start in January, will include a focus on health and wellbeing, ambitions and aspirations, building resilience, focussing on the future and learning respect and values, all delivered in an engaging and interactive way to allow the attendees to express themselves with a focus on personal development.
“The aim and ultimately the outcome of the project will be to provide children with a better understanding of themselves and a clear understanding of how they can achieve their goals and reach their potential" said Busfield.
“Through our current work with children services, it is evident that the issues are wider than just getting children to attend school. Children need a much more engaging and rounded programme which looks at developing them as people in order for them to grasp opportunities which may come their way.
“Providing children with additional, more focused provision outside of the school environment can accelerate learning and inspire children to make better choices. Educational achievement is strongly influenced by the attitudes of children towards learning, and these attitudes start developing from an early age”
Working from the purpose built TryZone education centre overlooking both the rugby and cricket pitches at Headingley Carnegie Stadium, the Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s team of specialist education staff will deliver the study support programme over the next two years, to help Leeds work towards achieving a reduction in this area.
For more information on the programme contact Dan.Busfield@leedsrugbyfoundation.org