Our Work
How we work
We use a combination of mentoring and rugby as a gateway to engage some of the most difficult young people in prison and in the community who are vulnerable to crime; many with gang membership warnings or violent convictions. Rugby provides the gateway for more substantial trauma informed support and mentoring to young people in both prisons and the community across London and the South East.
The 3Pillars approach offers long-term support to participants, with the aim of enabling individuals to make a positive contribution to society in the future, regardless of their past.
What are the 3Pillars?
Our in-custody model
Our in-custody programme is underpinned by foundations of teamwork, physicality and leadership. Over an 8-week programme, we engage, develop and establish long term support mentor relationships to develop in young people the tools necessary overcome their pasts and to positively contribute to society.
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Our programme takes a group of 15 young people aged 15 - 25 over an 8 week intervention and teaches them to play rugby. We develop teamwork communication and self control whilst being paired with workshops that address areas such as: anger management, family, relationships and goal setting. Participants also complete a coaching qualification where they learn to present in front of others.
The Community Gym Pathway - post release support
The Community Gym Pathway is an influential post-release mentoring approach that engages young prison leavers through a comprehensive sports-based employability model. The model engages a diverse range of individuals through physical activity, qualification attainment and personal development opportunities, which lead to sustainable employment within the community and beyond. The pathway addresses factors related to offending behaviour and supporting a successful and sustainable transition back into society.
External Support
Rory Stewart, MP
Prisons Minister
“3Pillars... which emphasises exercise, which emphasises employment but above all emphasises ethos; the military ethos, the sense of courage, the sense of pride, the sense of honour, the sense of self confidence which is going to be hugely important for pushing people forward into the world.” (January 2018).
Dr Phillip Lee, MP
Former Justice Minister