Two of Hull and East Yorkshire’s biggest organisations have joined forces on a brand new community programme to support a rise in attainment at school through sport and education.

Labelled ‘Engage’, the new partnership between the Hull FC Community Foundation and St Stephen's Shopping Centre will follow the club’s motto of ‘engage, educate and inspire’ by delivering an exciting eight-week course to students over the next three years.

With the support of St Stephens, who are funding the programme, students aged between 13 and 16 will learn about and become involved with the brand of Hull FC, enjoying sessions at the KC Stadium, meet the players and have the chance to complete a Rugby League Leaders Award qualification.

Various areas of the sporting organisation will also be used as an educational tool to help with the students’ understanding of the work, with facets such as the Super League salary cap being used to highlight the importance of money skills. There will also be a focus on fitness and health through the club’s performance approach, plus information technology and media.

Hull FC’s Head of Strategic Partnerships, Richard Munson, believes the brand of Hull FC and its values can play a major part in influencing the educational prospects of students in this area.
“Sport has many positive characteristics that can be used to support education attainment students,” he explained.

“The objective of this programme is to work with schools to identify students who potentially benefit from and enjoy a sport education based programme led by a professional club.”

The ‘Engage’ project is a new programme for the Hull FC Community Foundation that headlines their education work, with the aim to inspire and motivate people of all ages, promoting employment, education and training.

With unemployment on the rise throughout all age groups, the programme will aim to educate people about work and education as well as provide an effective mechanism to support people back into work.

Jim Harris, centre manager at St Stephens explained why the region’s leading shopping centre was so keen to get involved.

He said, “St Stephens is involved in a range of community initiatives which help to raise the educational and work-based prospects of youngsters in this area.

“We know that sport can be an ideal mechanism to inspire children and that kids need encouragement and motivation from appropriate role models."

He continued, “Our landlord, British Land, launched a Community Charter in 2011 which helps to make central funding available for great local projects like this and I am pleased to say with their help we can pledge support for Hull FC foundation, and this wonderful initiative for the next three years."

The award winning Hull FC Community Foundation have been working on high quality community partnerships in sport since 2007 across Hull, the East Riding of Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire.

At the heart of the Community Foundation is an understanding of the vital role that sport and in particular Rugby League can play in engaging, educating and inspiring people of all ages. The club is committed to delivering exciting, safe, and innovative projects that leave a lasting legacy for all people who participate. The club has set itself ambitious targets to extend its reach to over 40,000 people during 2012.