School unfortunately isn’t a positive experience for all young children, with emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA) on the rise. Bath Rugby Foundation is tackling this problem head on within their local community with the Engage programme. Harnessing the power of sport with dedicated one- to-one support, the team is creating a nurturing environment which rebuilds confidence and trust and keeps children in education.

Inclusion is at the heart of Bath’s work within their local community, and this is being celebrated across the weekend of 27-29 March. Round 12 of the Gallagher PREM and Round 16 of the PWR will see PREM Rugby, Premiership Women’s Rugby and their clubs unite for the first time to celebrate inclusivity across the game. Using the platform of elite competition, outdated stereotypes will be challenged, and one clear message will be made: everyone is welcome, and anyone can play.

Themed ‘This Is Belonging’, the weekend will use every game, every stand and every platform to showcase that rugby is a place for all - no matter who you are or your background. Across clubs, pitches and communities, both leagues will spotlight the welcoming environment, and the powerful role rugby plays in bringing people together.

This is Belonging is about pride and progress - ensuring existing fans and players feel proud to be part of the rugby family, while opening the door wider to welcome new audiences who want to see themselves represented and valued in the rugby community.

Across the country, PREM and PWR clubs and their foundations are embedded in their communities, delivering programmes that create social connection, increase participation across all ages and abilities, and support physical and mental wellbeing long after the final whistle.

Bath Rugby Foundation’s Engage is one of the standout initiatives - a term-time education support programme for pupils aged 9-13 who are anxious, withdrawn, or at risk of exclusion.

Developed in response to rising levels of EBSA, behaviour challenges and low confidence, Engage gives young people a fairer start, helping them rebuild trust in education and feel that they belong. Many referred pupils struggle in mainstream classrooms, face instability at home, or have lost confidence in school - often feeling they don’t fit in anywhere.

Through sport, mentoring and emotional support, the Bath Rugby Foundation team helps students regain confidence, rebuild relationships and reconnect with learning in a safe, nurturing environment.

Sessions run in small groups at local rugby hubs across Bath and North East Somerset and Wiltshire, blending physical activity, 1:1 mentoring, emotional literacy and teamwork.

Delivered in close partnership with schools and SENCO teams, the Engage programme supports pupils academically, socially and emotionally - but it offers far more than an alternative to the classroom. Engage harnesses the power of sport and creates a place which gives young people a genuine sense of belonging - providing a space where they feel valued, supported, and part of something bigger.

For one young person, P, Engage has been life-changing. Overwhelmed by pressure at school and instability at home, he initially felt he didn’t fit anywhere. But stepping into the Bath Rec Sports Hub - seeing the stadium, the pitch, and the teams who have played there - gave him a sense of possibility and belonging.

“Coming to the Rec made me feel like I could be part of something. I felt like I mattered here, and I could do things I never thought I could.” – P

Through games, team challenges and mentoring, P has built confidence, developed friendships, and experienced success in a safe, supportive environment. Engage has given him practical support and a sense of identity and pride - showing him that anyone can belong and anyone can play.

Alex Randall, Community Manager at Bath Rugby Foundation, adds: “Engage meets students where they are - using sport and mentoring to help them rebuild confidence and feel included. Being at the Rec makes that experience even more powerful.”

The results of the Engage programme speak for themselves, with increased school attendance after just 10 sessions and four out of five previously disengaged pupils improving attendance to within 1% of the national average. Academic achievement improves by 36%, and positive behaviour increases by 25% - clear evidence that targeted support can change trajectories.

Engage continues to grow rapidly across the region as more schools seek specialist Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) support for pupils struggling to stay connected with education. Bath Rugby Foundation’s long-term aim is to expand provision further, ensuring more young people like P can access early help before reaching crisis point.

As rugby unites under the ‘This Is Belonging’ banner, programmes like Engage demonstrate what this looks like in practice - not just in stadiums, but in classrooms, communities and the lives of young people who need support the most. Rugby is more than a game - it is a community, a family, and a place for all.

That ethos is lived year-round by Bath Rugby Foundation and Bath Rugby and they are harnessing this belief to ensure lasting change.

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To refer a young person to Engage, contact: [email protected]