Northampton Saints Foundation understands that a traditional school environment is not suited to everyone, which is why we launched our Engage programme - a personal development programme which uses the power of sport and the values of rugby to inspire, support and educate young people who are disengaged with education and in need of additional support.
Many of the young people supported by the programme have challenges with mental wellbeing, academic struggles, behavioural differences, or traumas that have affected their education. Since September 2025, the Foundation has supported over 170 young people, with 55% of these young people accessing the programme with an education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Through the Engage programme, participants are able to regain control of their academic pathway, build confidence and resilience, and experience a supportive, inclusive environment where they feel valued and able to belong.
This commitment to inclusion is reflected across the wider rugby community. From 27th-29th March, Round 12 of the Gallagher PREM and Round 16 of the PWR will see PREM Rugby, Premiership Women’s Rugby and their clubs unite for the first time to celebrate inclusivity across the game. Using the platform of elite competition, outdated stereotypes will be challenged, and one clear message will be made: everyone is welcome, and anyone can play.
Themed ‘This Is Belonging’, the weekend will use every game, every stand and every platform to showcase that rugby is a place for all - no matter who you are or your background. Across clubs, pitches and communities, both leagues will spotlight the welcoming environment, and the powerful role rugby plays in bringing people together.
This is Belonging is about pride and progress - ensuring existing fans and players feel proud to be part of the rugby family, while opening the door wider to welcome new audiences who want to see themselves represented and valued in the rugby community.
Across the country, PREM and PWR clubs and their Foundations are embedded in their communities, delivering programmes that strengthen social connection, increase participation across all ages and abilities, and support physical and mental wellbeing long after the final whistle.
Engage is a prime example, with seven hubs across Northampton, Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough and Milton Keynes, providing social, emotional, and mental health development opportunities. This includes one hub specifically dedicated to supporting young people on the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services waiting list.
Aimed at 7-16 years olds, Engage creates environments that are specific to addressing individual needs and challenges. Since joining the Foundation’s Engage programme in September 2025, one young person - who has ASD, ADHD and a history of low mood and self-harm - has attended 97% of sessions after struggling with confidence, emotional withdrawal and limited engagement in school-based interventions.
Through consistent support and a safe, inclusive environment, she has built friendships, grown in confidence, and now proactively seeks out conversations with staff about her wellbeing - a significant step forward for someone who once found it extremely difficult to open up about her emotions.
The young persons parent says: “We feel so lucky to have been offered support from the Engage programme, and honestly cannot thank the team enough. It has made such a difference to her life and we are so very grateful. The team is just amazing - she has adults there that she can talk to, trust and confide in - and her attendance at school has improved. Attending makes her life a much brighter, better place.”
Molly, a Youth Worker in the Hub at Northampton Saints Foundation, adds: “I am incredibly proud of the progress this individual has made. Seeing her grow in confidence, develop trust, make positive friendships, and feel able to express her emotions more openly has been a real privilege.”
As rugby unites under the ‘This Is Belonging’ banner, programmes like Engage demonstrate what this looks like in practice - not just in stadiums, but in classrooms, communities and the lives of young people who need support the most. Rugby is more than a game - it is a community, a family, and a place for all.
The future of Engage is full of opportunity. With accredited qualifications now embedded alongside its personal development focus, the programme continues to evolve - strengthening its impact and enhancing every stage of the Engage journey.