Creating Change for Young Londoners
TackleLondon connects young people in under-resourced London boroughs with their communities and improves their mental wellbeing, providing access to opportunity through sports mentoring, friendship and personal development, delivered through structured, trusted relationships with coaches.
Development Goals
Mental Wellbeing
Knowledge & Skills
Physical Health
Reduced Inequalities
Situation
Young people in under-resourced London boroughs, particularly those in areas with high Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) scores, face elevated exposure to systemic poverty, reduced access to safe spaces, and heightened risk of gang involvement and exploitation. At an individual level, we know that a sense of belonging and mattering in a community is essential for young people, strengthening their sense of self and the ways in which they can feel and add value in their community. Where these aspects are absent, grooming by gangs is one of the known risk factors. At an institutional level, schools are often under-resourced, and we know, based on our impact data, that our free coaching and mentoring provision adds value to the school curriculum.
Solution
In-school sessions → Inter-school Tournament → After-school club → MRRF Academy → Local community rugby club
A distinctive part of the TackleLondon pathway is how it brings schools together, not just individual young people. Shared ethos and shared coach training across partner schools mean the experience is consistent wherever a young person engages, and that consistency is what makes cross-school activity work in practice. Inter-school tournaments create structured, repeated opportunities for young people from different geographic backgrounds and boroughs to interact, building integration and shared experience across school communities. This school-to-school interaction is intended as a long-term strength of the model: continuity of contact sustained over time through the community tournament calendar, rather than a one-off event.
Testimonials
“Rugby is something I really love. I’ve got a lot of friends through the sport, and it keeps me away from all the bad stuff that happens nowadays. When I’m at rugby, I feel like I’m enjoying myself and comfortable. I’ve never been confident in my life. I used to be scared to stand up and speak. I’d be shaking, thinking everyone would laugh at me. But now, I feel more confident. Playing this sport has helped my well-being.”
“You see it straight away. As soon as they start their session, the rugby coaches have got them. They’re engaged, they’re showing respect and they’re being polite to them. It shows that they’re being provided with someone they can trust, but someone who’s got humour – a personality – so that they start thinking ‘Okay I’m here to learn a new skill. But, also, someone that cares about me, who wants to listen and give me guidance.'”
“Whether the game is going good or badly – whatever situation you’re in – you know that you’re in a supportive group of people who believe in you. That truly, truly can make a difference to all of us. As the pathway moves from a school situation into a rugby club situation, you’ve then got the wider community who believe in that individual to follow that pathway. Ultimately the mentoring will have had a phenomenal effect on any individuals life, and that’s where we hope to get to by broadening the TackleLondon programme.”
The sustained change TackleLondon aims to contribute to; what young people achieve for themselves, with our support, over months and years as they move through the pathway are improvements in:
- Metal Wellbeing
- Knowlege and Skills
- Behavious
- Attidudes
| Annual Cost – Current footprint | |
| Schools Liason Manager | £15,392 |
| Coaching Co-ordinator | £12,000 |
| Programme delivery – Schools | £28,600 |
| Programme delivery – Academy | £5,900 |
| Inter-Schools Tournaments | £1,600 |
| Travel costs | £235 |
| Website | £500 |
| Communications Manager | £4,654 |
| Total | £68,881 |
Impact
Improved Mental Wellbeing
Improved mental wellbeing and emotional regulation, through increased time spent in positive, structured environments with trusted adults and peers, building a stronger sense of belonging and mattering as well as connection to school and local community. Experiencing conflict, and learning in a supported way how to manage de-escalation and resilience.
Stronger, lasting peer and mentor networks that support young people to make choices that are healthy for themselves and for those around them.
Increased social mobility and inclusion, with all young people building shared experience and mutual respect.
Knowledge and Skills
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Increased understanding of their own emotions and how to manage them: recognising anger, anxiety or stress, and having the tools to respond.
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Improved communication and conflict-resolution skills, learned through team play and supported interaction.
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Increased awareness of how to recognise signs of struggle in themselves and in peers, and clear knowledge of how to seek help or signpost a friend.
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Increased knowledge of the wider opportunities available to them, including clubs, the Academy, and other community pathways.
Improved Behaviours
- Increased attendance and engagement at school.
- Increased participation in after-school and community activities rather than unsupervised time.
- Active use of signposting knowledge – seeking support themselves or directing a friend to appropriate help.
- Demonstrated positive engagement and fair play on the pitch.
- Progression along the pathway, from in-school participation through to after-school engagement and beyond.
Improved Attitudes
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Increased self-esteem and confidence.
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A greater sense of belonging and trust in coaches, peers and the wider TackleLondon community.
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Feeling valued as a member of a community and understanding how and why it is important to add value to your community.
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Increased aspiration and a stronger sense of agency over their own future.
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Greater openness to and respect for all people.
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Reduced stigma when talking about mental health, wellbeing and how to approach challenges.
Help TackleLondon Support More Young Londoners
Stories from TackleLondon
Kamran’s Story – TackleLondon
Kamran’s Story Kamran grew up in Croydon, a place where the streets can be unpredictable, and opportunities for young people are limited. Knife...