EXCLUDED pupils are being given the chance to get their lives back on track – through the medium of rugby.
A scheme is underway at the Epic Leisure Centre, Ellesmere Port to invite youngsters who have been excluded from mainstream education the opportunity to take part in an innovative rugby-based initiative.
The Epic is one of five centres in the North West chosen to host the activities for 14 and 15 year olds.
Children's charity Wooden Spoon has teamed up with Barclays Spaces for Sports, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Enterprise Education Trust to launch 120 eight-week schemes for those either in or on the edge of the criminal justice system through exclusion from school.
Dave Marwick, the community rugby coach for North Manchester who is coordinating the scheme nationally, said: "We have around 90 youngsters involved across the five centres and the early feedback has been very good.
"From the perspective of the RFU team involved, there's a really good feel about the project simply because there's much more to it than just teaching kids how to play rugby."
In addition to being given an introduction to rugby, the project also dovetails valuable education and life skills to vulnerable pupils excluded from school.
Working in two phases - the first started in January 2010 and finishes in July 2010, the second starting in September 2010 and finishing in April 2011 - the project will deliver 120 intensive eight-week schemes, combining both physical rugby training and classroom learning including life, enterprise and financial skills.
Many of the youngsters have some of the poorest rates of educational attainment and future employment as well as some of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy and drug and alcohol abuse.
