The Wise Group has partnered with Newcastle Rugby Foundation on our Talent Match programme, which supports long-term unemployed young people (aged 18-25) in the North East into work, education and training.

Talent Match is a National Lottery Community Fund programme, which provides unemployed young people with the tailored support they need to overcome barriers into work.

An innovative partnership of young people, employers, the third sector and public sector agencies, the programme is managed in the North East by the Wise Group.

Joining as our youth participation partner, the Newcastle Rugby Foundation will welcome participants to Kingston Park Stadium and will offer a wide range of opportunities to them

Since the programme’s inception in 2014, Talent Match North East has enabled over 2,500 young people from across in the North East to realise their potential and access work placements, volunteering, training, employer engagement activities and regular one-to-one support from highly-trained youth coaches.

28% of participants are in sustained employment following six months of participation in the programme.

The Newcastle Rugby Foundation has joined as the programme’s youth participation partner, to ensure that young people in the region are involved in shaping both the current programme and the future of employment services for young people in the North East.

The benefits of the partnership include the facilitation of a Talent Match Ambassador scheme, which will bring together a number of young people on the programme at Kingston Park Stadium to shape, deliver and evaluate the programme.

In addition, the Talent Match Ambassadors will meet Newcastle Falcons players, take part in an exclusive hospitality match-day experience and get hands-on as part as the Newcastle Falcons volunteering scheme ‘The Cast’.

John Maddison, Talent Match North East’s Programme Manager said: “We are delighted to welcome Newcastle Rugby Foundation as youth participation partner for the Talent Match programme.

“The ambassador scheme will ensure the legacy of Talent Match as it brings together young people to shape and evaluate both the current programme and the future of employability provision in the North East for years to come.

“We are really impressed with the opportunities that Newcastle Rugby Foundation can offer to the young people on our programme

“From meeting Newcastle Falcons players to volunteering at international events such as the upcoming Rugby League World Cup, this new partnership will open doors for the young people we support”.

Darren Greco, Funding & Development Manager for the Newcastle Rugby Foundation, added: “We are really excited to take on the role as youth participation partner for the Talent Match programme.

“This new partnership will provide the region with a dedicated youth voice in shaping employability provision whilst enhancing the skills and experiences of a group of youth ambassadors from the programme.”