Leeds Rhinos Foundation launched its ‘reducing reoffending’ scheme back in 2016 at HMP Leeds. The success of this early pilot saw a 10-week Tackle It programme launched in HMP Wealstun.

This groundbreaking programme has been specially designed to provide support for victim survivors of domestic abuse and help lower re-offending rates by running educational workshops with those convicted of the crime.

Using the power of sport, the project combines classroom learning and physical activity sessions with a focus on confidence building, personal development and acquiring the skills and knowledge to change their behaviours and help them successfully re-integrate back into society upon society.

Workshops will demonstrate how individual qualities and life skills can be transferable into many different situations. The project targets all areas of personal development: including anger triggers, recognising healthy and unhealthy relationships, healthy living, behaviour and consequences, and identifying strengths to build up confidence. 

Out of the 31 sentenced offenders to have successfully completed the Tackle It course since it began, only one has later been recalled to prison- proving its success so far. 

Thanks to our strong working relationship with the probation services and the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit, the programme has been given long-term funding support to ensure that we can work together on rolling out many more Tackle It courses to help tackle the issue of domestic violence through critical early intervention and prevention techniques.

For more information on Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s Tackle It project, please contact  dane.weatherill@leedsrhinosfoundation.org.

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