A number of 'at risk' teenagers from two Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) took part in the FairPlay programme supported by Wooden Spoon, Barclays Spaces for Sports, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and the Enterprise Education Trust.

Around 20 local youngsters - from Newhaven PRU in Lewisham and Abbey Manor PRU in Greenwich - put their new-found skills to the test in a game of rugby at Charlton Park Rugby Football Club (RFC) in Kidbrooke on 27th April. They took on pupils from The St Thomas The Apostle College in Peckham, before receiving their FairPlay certificates.

They are among hundreds of young people across England who will benefit from the intensive eight-week programme delivered over two years, combining rugby drills and coaching from RFU community coaches with classroom sessions that provide academic credits to build towards formal qualifications. Barclays are also supporting training in how these young people can look after and manage their finances, as part of the Barclays Money Skills initiative.

A key aim of the programme is also to provide a route for these young people into the safe, supportive environment of local rugby clubs so they can further develop their self-confidence. Four of the teenagers from the Greenwich and Lewisham PRUs, with no previous experience of playing rugby, are already involved with local clubs - two from Lewisham are training twice a week and playing at weekends for Beckenham RFC while two from Greenwich have joined Charlton Park RFC.

Lee Amzaleg, a Community Rugby Coach with the RFU who has worked with the PRUs in Lewisham and Greenwich, said: "This project has had such a big impact in lots of different ways - for example, one young person has decided to give up smoking as a result of taking part. Others have learnt to control their aggression a lot better as they know it doesn't work if you lose control on the pitch.

"Teachers have told us of a cases where these teenagers now have much more self-confidence and are able to express themselves. One youngster never went to assembly and was extremely shy, but is now talking about what he experienced from the FairPlay programme as well as talking more generally to other kids and the school about his various likes and dislikes."

Jason Leonard OBE, Lead Ambassador for Wooden Spoon and England's most capped rugby union player who began playing at Barking RFC, said: "Rugby is a contact sport which has a proven track record of helping young children manage their aggression, increase their aspirations and effort, and modify their behaviour for their own benefit and that of the communities from which they are drawn.

"From previous projects Spoon has found that rugby helps young people at risk of violence feel less threatened, it manages individual anger problems, and the discipline of the sport is helping young people fit into education and employment."

Hannah Willis, Associate Director, Global Community Investment at Barclays, said: "We are delighted that the FairPlay programme is already having such a positive impact across the country. We know from the feedback we are getting from our community sites and other projects how opportunities through sport can deliver major benefits to young people, not only in terms of tackling issues such as crime and anti-social behaviour, but also in developing their skills and confidence and improving their future prospects."