One of The British & Irish Lions Trust Official Charity Partners has praised the impact of funding and support it has received from the touring side’s Principal Partner Howden.

Dallaglio RugbyWorks, which works with young people aged 12-18 that have been excluded from school, has been in partnership with Howden since January of this year.

The charity has worked alongside the global insurance group in a variety of capacities during the last 10 months in order to provide valuable opportunities to those they support.

One of those experiences provided by Howden was an employability taster day at the organisation’s offices in Birmingham in July.

The event was put on for 10 students to broaden their horizons regarding the world of work and increase their future chances of being employed.

Rachel Adams, senior development manager at Dallaglio RugbyWorks, explained that the chances of excluded children getting gainful employment is roughly half that of the general population.

However, if an excluded child experiences four meaningful encounters with employers, they can earn up to 22% more during their careers.

“What Howden have done for them is huge,” said Adams. “The young people we work with are often written off once they’re excluded from school.

"Our coaches try to show them they still have potential, but when adults outside the charity, people who don’t know them, also tell them they have potential, it’s incredibly powerful.”

Howden have also supported Dallaglio RugbyWorks in other areas which include lending the charity their office space to conduct meetings, hosting the charity’s annual awards event and helping fund the training of one of the charity’s staff members.

Howden have committed to releasing part of its apprenticeship levy to fund one of Dallaglio RugbyWorks’ youth animators gaining his Level 6 youth work degree apprenticeship, a qualification that will allow him to impact the lives of more young people.

“Being supported by Howden is massive,” continued Adams. “Obviously, funding is vital for any charity, but it’s even more valuable when an organisation sits down with us to work out how they can help strategically.

“The apprenticeship levy is a great example; it’s not just throwing money at something. They looked at how our objectives align with their corporate responsibility goals, so there’s mutual benefit.

“They’ve had people involved at every level, from early-career employees to senior leaders like the Chief People Officer, showing that it’s not just a box-ticking exercise.

“These are busy people who care about the impact, and that’s huge for us. It validates everything we’re trying to do. These are people who don’t have to care but choose to invest their time. That’s life-changing for our young people.”

Kirk Southern, chief people officer and chair of Howden’s social mobility employee resource group, added: “Our partnership with Dallaglio RugbyWorks is about opening up possibilities for young people and showing them there are no limits to what they can achieve. These are individuals who often face barriers that limit their access to opportunity – not because they lack talent, but because the system hasn’t worked for them.

“We believe their starting point shouldn’t define their future. By working with Dallaglio RugbyWorks, we’re aiming to help build confidence, broaden horizons, and show that there are many paths to success.

“We’re focusing on practical ways to support these young people: through industry insight days, exposure to different career paths, and experiences that inspire and help them see what’s possible.

“It’s early days, but we’re excited about what this partnership can grow into and the impact it can have.”