Reducing Reoffending and Improving Lives

Why do we do it?

At the Saracens Foundation, we believe that in prison, just as in our communities, the impact of rugby can be far-reaching. Participation can greatly improve the attitudes, behaviour and prospects of people serving a prison sentence before and after their release. Using rugby as a ‘hook’ provides us with a valuable and unique opportunity to engage with even the most challenging of young people caught up in a cycle of offending and imprisonment.

dON’T LOOK DOWN ON SOMEONE UNLESS YOU ARE HELPING THEM UP

young offenders

VENUE: HMP YOI Feltham

The Get Onside Project has been running in Feltham Young Offenders Institute since 2011. In this time, we have engaged over 400 young offenders in rugby, supported by a powerful curriculum of life lessons, which has contributed to reducing reoffending from up to 64% to 15%. This has saved the prison service £9.7M (£90,000 per year per young offender) at a cost to the Foundation of around £376,000 over ten years – a return of £25 for every £1 spent.

Most young people growing up in Young Offenders Institutes have lived complicated and chaotic lives. They represent some of the most socially excluded, vulnerable and disadvantaged young people in England. For example, fewer than 1% of children in England are in care but looked after children make up 33% of boys and 61% of girls in custody. In addition, minority ethnic groups are over-represented within Young Offenders Institutes, making up 27% of the prison population. The social inequalities these young people face effects every area of their live, from employment; to education; to health and wellbeing; to social cohesion.

disABILITY - Sarrie's Skills Club

adult offenders

 Venue: HMP The Mount

The Get Onside Project began with delivery to young people, and it remains central to our work today. But we are passionate about achieving our mission of empowering people to fully realise their potential and live a life they can be proud of, free from the criminal justice system and so we now deliver life-changing eight-week programmes to adults in HMP The Mount. Our first course was run in early 2020 and delivered life changing outcomes for the men on the course, all of whom we have supported through the gate and into society.

Contact Us

8 + 2 =