A new social inclusion hub has opened in Wellingborough, providing dedicated support to help young people re-engage with education and rebuild their connection to learning.
The new hub, located in Glamis Hall, was officially opened in May by Jordan Letts, the Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer and Emilie Harbottle, Head of Education and Inclusion. The official opening was attended by Northampton Saints Foundation staff, trustees, partners and Northampton Saints centre, Tom Litchfield.
The guests came together to celebrate the launch of the Wellingborough Engage Hub and the continued growth of Northampton Saints Foundation’s impact within the community. The Engage programme supports young people aged seven to 16 who are disengaged from education, many of whom have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).
Young people are provided with up to 15 hours a week with a one to three staff-to- learner ratio, providing a personalised and child-centred approach. Through structured sessions and activities, the foundation helps to develop and encourage confidence, resilience and re-engagement with learning and education.
Northampton Saints Foundation has already established six Engage Hubs across Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes that support around 300 young people each academic year.
Wellingborough was identified, with the support of Northamptonshire Police, as an area of need. By opening the hub in Glamis Hall, the foundation can continue to work to get young people into meaningful educational settings. Northamptonshire’s Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has highlighted growing concerns around youth violence and disengagement across Northamptonshire.
In 2024, the Youth Violence Intervention Unit reported that anti-social behaviour made up 36.2% of referrals involving young people needing targeted support, highlighting the increasing demand for early intervention and positive community provision.
At the same time, nationally, school absence rates remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels, with The Centre for Social Justice (March 2026) reporting that 176,000 students missed more than 50% of classes.
Today, through its Engage Hubs, the foundation remains committed to helping lower these figures by providing young people with a safe, supportive environment to reconnect with education and achieve positive outcomes.
Speaking about the launch of Wellingborough’s Engage Hub, Emilie Harbottle said: “We are so excited to announce the opening of our new Engage Hub in Wellingborough. We have worked closely with different professionals to find the perfect location for our seventh hub, and it already feels like home. The hub was established as an area of need to support young people who struggle to be in school full-time. This personal development programme works with young people to build confidence and resilience, all whilst using the values of rugby.”
The new hub sets out to continue the impact already shown across Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes, in 2024/2025, with 89% of children who were enrolled into the Engage programme having made a positive progression into their education pathways.
Since January 2026, 22 young people have already been supported by the foundation’s Wellingborough Engage Hub, with one positive progression back into education having already been made. An ACE support worker shared her observations of the positive change she has witnessed in one student and his family, expressing how pleased she is with the impact the programme has had.
“It’s been life-changing for one child and his mum; from hardly leaving his bedroom for seven months to actively counting down the days until he is due to attend [the hub] again. He is also begging me to see if he can attend more often! I am overjoyed at the change.” Northampton Saints Foundation looks forward to sharing more impact, stories, and news from the new hub, as it continues to support and create opportunities for the young people who need it most.
To find out more, visit their website.
