The Breakthrough programme is an innovative and groundbreaking partnership between Premier Rugby, London Active Communities and the Active Communities Network that places rugby union and Premier Rugby at the forefront of sports-based social inclusion, education and training in deprived communities.

Rugby has a unique culture in the world of sport; combining physical attributes of speed, skill, strength and aggression, with principles of teamwork and collective responsibility. These traits can be harnessed to tackle a range of social issues that blight many young people and communities across the UK. Supported by the kudos and credibility of Premier Rugby, we have a perfect opportunity to encourage participation within these communities that no other organisation can match.

The Breakthrough programme capitalises on Premier Rugby's track record of providing local participation schemes to create brand new initiatives. Breakthrough delivers a national programme of activity mapped against key policy and strategic outcome areas for working with young people (the Every Child Matters Agenda which is to Be Healthy, Stay Safe, Enjoy and Achieve, Make a Positive Contribution and Achieve Economic Wellbeing).

We ensure our clubs build effective local partnerships, access funding, develop staff and offer the highest quality of service to young people and their communities. In turn this benefits our club community schemes by providing training and resources, and broadens the reach of our brands and rugby in general to traditionally non-participating communities and ultimately to those most vulnerable.

Our partnership with London Active Communities and the Active Communities Network has already started to bear fruit. Funding has secured a programme manager to oversee and develop the Breakthrough project and support clubs nationally in accessing resources and training; a successful pilot programme was rolled-out over the summer of 2008 in London; and funding support from the Equality and Human Rights Commission and Metropolitan Police has enabled us to initiate a crime diversionary programme in North London. All of which have put the Breakthrough programme at the cutting edge of professional sports involvement in social development programmes.

Breakthrough Programme

The Breakthrough programme aims to use the kudos of professional rugby, its clubs and branding as a way of engaging young people in the sport and breaking cycles of poverty, social exclusion and offending behaviour within their communities. By raising aspirations and expectations the aim is to ultimately move young people towards accredited training, educational support, work placement and employment opportunities.

Breakthrough offers:

• Neighbourhood based rugby opportunities and coaching
• Personal development support
• Accredited training courses
• Sports coaching courses
• Youth work training
• Volunteering and Citizenship programmes
• Work placement support
• Entry routes to formal training and employment

The Breakthrough programme acts as the overall network for Premier Rugby and Active Communities social inclusion initiatives; supporting work with corporate partners and strategic agencies to develop uniquely branded projects that will encourage young people into the various programmes of activity.

These initiatives include:

• Community rugby coaching in deprived neighbourhoods
• Ticketing and match-day activity
• Anti-racism initiatives
• Healthy living projects
• Crime diversion activities
• Drug and alcohol awareness programmes

In developing a wide range of issue-based activities we aim to engage participants and tackle social issues at a grass roots level, whilst offering positive pathways in keeping with the national Breakthrough programme.