Leeds Rhinos player Brett Delaney will be supporting a new Leeds Rhinos Foundation education project, called Onside, for current inmates at HMP LEEDS.
After receiving a grant from the Safer Communities Fund, Leeds Rhinos Foundation will be working in HMP Leeds to deliver a new project that will use sport and the engaging values of sport to cover a range of areas including barriers and stereotyping, relationships, behaviour and consequences, aspirations and goal setting responsibility, motivation, teamwork, respect and discipline. These values will be linked to real life skills such as healthy living, employability and being a champion citizen.
Delaney, will join Leeds Rhinos Foundation staff in their delivery of the sessions which will involve classroom based lessons followed by physical activity sessions in the gym.
Speaking about why he chose to get involved with the project the three-time Grand Final winner said: “Leeds Rhinos Foundation do fantastic work in the city to help people make positive changes in their lives and I have been looking to get involved for some time. I have been doing some talks to young people recently about my own experiences and the choices I have made.
“When I was a kid I could have taken a different path but I was lucky that I had sport as an outlet and was given different opportunities. Life is about making different choices and taking different paths in life and there is a bigger picture at the end of the road and you don’t have to go the way you are going, it’s never too late.
“I can’t wait to get involved and see what it is all about and help some lads out. If I can help at least one person I have done my job. Everybody deserves a second chance and this is a great project to be involved in to help people make the most of those opportunities.”
The nine-week course will be delivered in partnership with Tempus Novo, an award-winning charity that helps ex-offenders into employment and is reducing reoffending rates by more than 90%.
Steve Freer, CEO and Founder of Tempus Novo said: “Tempus Novo are delighted to be working in partnership with Leeds Rhinos, Leeds Prison and West Yorkshire Police. Further developing an already solid relationship which is working towards a common goal, reducing crime and alleviating poverty in our community. Through this initiative we will be able to teach offenders some basic skills which will hopefully equip them better to move away from crime and into jobs.”
The project will be funded by the Safer Communities Fund, which was launched by Mark Burns-Williamson, Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire, to help voluntary, community groups, charities and partners make their communities safer and feel safer. The Safer Communities Fund is financed from monies recovered by West Yorkshire Police under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA). Grants are awarded in line with the priorities set out in the Police and Crime plan.
Commenting on the new project, Police constable, Integrated offender management unit 6th Hub HMP LEEDS, John Thornton said: “This is a new project which we are proud to be involved with further developing an already strong and exciting partnership. Along with the Leeds Rhinos Foundation, Tempus Novo and HMP LEEDS we will be working with offenders who have a desire to engage with us and partner agencies and move away from a life of crime.
“The cost of crime nationally is estimated at £11 billion annually and these contribute to making communities decline and can erode a community’s sense of cohesiveness, as well as having a huge financial impact. With this new project and through partnership working we aim to use sport as a vehicle for social inclusion, with the intention to reduce levels of crime, and the threat, harm and risk of crime being committed against communities.”
For more information on the Onside Project contact janet.sylvester@leedsrhinosfoundation.org