Building Lasting Connections Between Young People and Local Rugby Communities
Partnering with TackleLondon helps your club grow stronger, more inclusive and more resilient – creating a positive rugby community where every young person can belong.
At TackleLondon, we use rugby as a force for good: building confidence, connection, and community for young people across London who’ve experienced challenge or adversity. Through school programmes, coach training, and club partnerships, we create safe, supportive environments where every young person can belong, grow, and thrive both on and off the pitch.
This section explores how TackleLondon partners with rugby clubs to create lasting pathways between schools and communities. You’ll discover how we help clubs welcome new young players, support coaches through free specialist training, and build long-term impact through stronger, more inclusive club cultures.
Why Join Us?
Grow Your Club
We connect your club directly with young people from our school rugby programmes, helping transition new players and their families into your age-grade teams and club community.
Empower Your Coaches
Through our partnership with star* Scheme, we offer free, specialist coach training designed to build confidence, understanding and leadership among your coaching team.
Build Long-Term Impact
Beyond rugby, young people gain life skills, form friendships, and become part of a lasting support network that extends well beyond their school years.
Where We’re Active
TackleLondon is proud to partner with clubs across South and West London — each helping to build stronger connections between young people, schools, and the wider rugby community:
If your club shares our values and wants to get involved, we’d love to hear from you. Simply get in touch to start a conversation about becoming part of the TackleLondon network.
What We Deliver
The Adverse Childhood Experiences Aware training programme, delivered by TackleLondon’s partner charity star* Scheme, supports grassroots rugby coaches and volunteers to understand the effects of childhood trauma and adversity – and to create safer, more supportive spaces for young people.
Understanding ACEs and the Role of Sport
Many young people grow up facing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) — such as neglect, abuse, domestic violence, or instability at home. These experiences can affect a child’s confidence, relationships, and ability to cope with stress. When sport is delivered with awareness, empathy, and the right mentoring, it becomes a powerful tool for healing and growth. Rugby, in particular, offers routine, belonging, and positive role models who can help young people rebuild trust and resilience.
That’s where TackleLondon, in partnership with star* Scheme, steps in. Together we provide ACEs Aware training for coaches and volunteers — equipping them to recognise signs of adversity, respond with understanding, and create safe, supportive environments where every player can thrive.
What the Training Covers
Understanding the Impact of ACEs
Learn how experiences such as abuse, neglect, and domestic violence can affect young people’s development and mental health – and how these may be expressed through behaviour.
Key Learning Areas
- What ACEs are and how they shape development
- The impact of toxic stress on the brain
- The role of protective factors and positive relationships
- How to identify and respond to ACEs in an informed, supportive way
Practical Interaction Strategies
Coaches and volunteers gain practical tools to engage with empathy and openness: building trust, reducing stigma, and feeling more capable in their roles.
Creating a Resilient Club
By investing in your adults, we help your club nurture the safe, trusted relationships that allow young people to build resilience and thrive – both in the club environment and in the wider world.
YOUR PARTNERSHIP JOURNEY WITH US
A Step-by-Step Guide
We believe every club is different, and so is every partnership. Here’s how we’ll work with you to build a lasting connection between your club and local young people.
Step 1: Get in Touch
Start the conversation. You have a few ways to get in contact with us:
For an immediate registration as an interested London Rugby Club:
To arrange a meeting with our TackleLondon Clubs and Schools Liaison, Ellie Yarwood:
For general enquiries:
Step 2: We Plan Together
We’ll meet with your club leadership to understand your goals, current structure, and how TackleLondon can best support your needs. Together, we’ll identify opportunities for growth – from youth engagement to coach development – and outline the resources available through our partnership network.
Step 3: We Equip Your Team
Your coaches and volunteers receive free ACEs Aware training through our partnership with star* Scheme, building confidence, awareness, and capacity across your club. This training helps create a more supportive, resilient environment for young players while empowering coaches with practical strategies to make a lasting impact.
Step 4: We Become Partners
Your club becomes an official TackleLondon Partner Club. From this point, we actively transition young people from our school programmes into your teams – backed by our ongoing support. Partner clubs also gain access to exclusive rugby and education events, made possible through donations and charity connections, offering unique opportunities for your players, coaches, and community to engage with the wider rugby family.
Join the Journey
By partnering with TackleLondon, your club becomes part of a growing network that is transforming lives through rugby, education, and community connection. Together, we create safe, inclusive spaces where young people can thrive, coaches can grow, and clubs can make a lasting impact. Discover the difference our programmes are making by exploring our stories and news — from inspiring player journeys to club successes — and see how your club could be part of the next chapter.