Bedford Blues Foundation has announced its new Sponsor a Student scheme, designed to help provide activities and learning that transform the lives of vulnerable young people across Bedfordshire.
With school exclusions in Bedford surpassing national averages, the main purpose of this outreach programme is to offer alternative pathways for students facing academic and social challenges.
Mainstream education isn’t always the best way forward for everyone; through this programme and using rugby’s core values, Blues Foundation aims to address this imbalance and provide a
differing route to learning core skills.
Through the scheme, businesses can sponsor a young person for £800, funding an academic year of dedicated support. The funds cover resources, training, and workshops grounded in rugby’s core values – resilience, respect and teamwork.
That contribution could provide training and qualifications, facilities to learn, and resources to aid personal development. Each sponsored student benefits from tailored guidance aimed at building
confidence, life skills and a renewed sense of purpose, equipping them to overcome barriers both inside and outside of school.
This initiative reflects Blues Foundation’s commitment to strengthening local communities and creating positive, lasting change for students at risk of falling through the cracks in traditional education.
With an evident societal impact, covering the entirety of Bedfordshire, this is the ideal way to make a real difference to someone’s life while watching them prosper and strive back in schooling environments.
Sponsoring a student will enable them to gain vital skills and experiences that will transform their future and boost aspirations.
Many young people supported by Blues Foundation are experiencing challenges which vary from behaviour and mental wellbeing to low confidence and self-esteem. The Foundation’s interventions use rugby’s core values to help address some of these challenges.
By donating £800, across 12 months, a sponsor will enable a student to receive qualifications, learning and workshops that helps build core functional skills that they will benefit from for the rest of their lives.
Mulberry Homes have become the first business to support the scheme. A spokeswoman said:
“We are delighted to have supported Bedford Blues Foundation and help them with their sponsor a student programme.
“At Mulberry Homes, we think it is important to support charities near to the communities we build, and we hope our donation can ensure that Bedford Blues Foundation can carry on their vital work.”
Contact Head of Blues Foundation, Tom Harwood on tom@bluesfoundation.org.uk to learn more about this initiative and help support the future of a young person in the local community or visit the website
