Ten years ago, Jordan Letts walked through the doors of Northampton Saints Foundation with a single mission, to ensure that no young person ever felt the way he once did, lost, unseen, and without a sense of belonging in education.
What began as a one-person programme called Engage, working one-to-one with young people struggling in mainstream education, has grown into a charity which inspires, supports and educates over 7,000 people annually.
Founded in 1880 by Reverend Samuel Wathen Wigg, Northampton Saints began as a way to guide troubled youth through rugby, a legacy that lives on today through Northampton Saints Foundation.
The Foundation uses the power of sport and the values of rugby, teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship, to empower young people to build confidence, develop essential life skills and access new opportunities in education, training or employment.
Through its education, social inclusion, employability programmes, as well as its Specialist Services, the Foundation continues to enrich lives across generations. From working in schools to launching college pathways and supporting rehabilitation in prisons, its reach now extends across multiple communities, making a tangible difference in people’s lives.
For Jordan, the journey has been deeply personal. Having struggled himself in mainstream education, he understands the challenges faced by many of the young people the Foundation supports. His own turning point came at Moulton College, where a course leader showed him that potential isn’t defined by grades, a belief that continues to underpin the Foundation’s approach today.
Over the past decade, Jordan has helped shape the Foundation’s growth into a nationally recognised force. Since stepping into the role of CEO in early 2025, he has continued to drive the organisation forward, expanding programmes, deepening partnerships, and ensuring that the Foundation remains a place where every person feels seen, supported and believed in.
“When I joined Saints in 2015, I wanted to change a system,” he said. “What I didn’t realise is that this place would change me too. Every young person we support reminds me why we do what we do, and that we’re only just getting started. I’m incredibly proud to lead this organisation. Whether it’s the incredible team we have or the difference we see in the young people we support, and the networks around them, it pushes me every day to make sure we’re the very best we can be for them.
“Looking ahead to 2026, there’s loads to look forward to. We’ll continue strengthening our Education, Inclusion and Employability programmes, grow our Health and Wellbeing offer, and push forward with plans for a dedicated home for the Foundation. We’ll also be launching our first social value report, showcasing the impact we made in 2024–25 and the difference we’ll keep making. All of this will help us reach and support even more people across Northamptonshire.
“There is so much potential ahead and we are ready to meet it with the same commitment and energy that has driven our work so far. I’d also like to say thank you to our partners and trustees, our achievements wouldn’t be possible without the people who support us, their support does not just help us run programmes. It genuinely changes lives”.
Companies seeking visible, long-term impact, and a stronger presence in their local community should contact Northampton Saints Foundation for more information.
To find out more, email admin@northamptonsaintsfoundation.org or visit the Northampton Saints Foundation website.
