A partnership between ENGIE Regeneration, NPH and Northampton Saints has given primary schools in Northampton the chance to develop their rugby skills on the turf of Franklin’s Gardens.
Participating schools from neighbourhoods that NPH and Major Works contractor ENGIE work in, were given the opportunity to get involved in rugby coaching sessions earlier in the year before visiting Franklin’s Gardens for a mini tournament on 21st May.
Throughout the course of the programme children – between Years 3 and 6 – learnt the rules of tag rugby along with the core principles and values of rugby, namely teamwork, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship.
Two teachers from each school also benefited on the programme with free coaching education sessions, giving them the skills needed to continue to lead tag rugby sessions in the future.
“Our primary school programmes have allowed us to really impact young lives across Northamptonshire and beyond. The funding from ENGIE to deliver at Thorplands, Lumbertubs and Lings Primary schools has provided fantastic opportunities to children from the more deprived areas of Northampton,” said Saints’ Rugby Development Officer, Ben Lawrence.
Jyoti Madlani, Business Development Manager at ENGIE Regeneration, said: “At ENGIE Regeneration, we place great importance in investing in the communities in which we work”.
“It’s so nice to see the communities that this is benefiting really getting involved. It has had a very positive impact on the schoolchildren. I think there are definitely some Saints stars for the future here!”
ENGIE is currently working in partnership with NPH to carry out a forecasted £160m programme of planned investment to council owned homes and neighbourhoods in Northampton over a period of ten years.
Helen Town, Assistant Director of Asset Management & Development for NPH added: “This programme has been great for the children. When we partnered with ENGIE Regeneration, we were impressed with their commitment to community investment and we will continue to invest in our neighbourhoods and create opportunities for those who live in them.”
Participating schools included Lings, Lumbertubs and Thorplands Primary Schools.