Sade Smith

Being part of Dallaglio RugbyWorks has given me a real understanding of what it means to be part of something bigger than yourself. Our slogan,”Including the Excluded,” is more than just words; it is something we strive to live by every day.Working across mainstream,Pupil Referral Units,Young Offender Institutions and alternative provisions, we reach young people who can often feel overlooked, misunderstood or forgotten by society.What makes this Organisation special to me is the passion, patience and commitment we bring to every young person.We don’t just deliver sport; we build relationships, create opportunities, challenge perceptions and remind young people that they matter, they have potential and their circumstances do not define them.For me, being part of RugbyWorks means helping young people feel seen, heard and included, regardless of their starting point. we do this through offering Career taster days, delivering mentoring sessions,AQA Acredited Qualifications and implementing the theory and discipline of rugby through many other sports and giving the young people the tools they need for life itself. Despite only having a small team in London, Hastings North West and midlands, we definitely make up for it with the impact that we have on our young people and we will keep doing so.

My story begins living with my grandparents after my mum fled domestic violence. Raised in a strict, disciplined but LOVING environment, my upbringing taught me resilience, compassion and that circumstances do not have to define your future.I always imagined a future in performing arts However, a conversation with my uncle changed my direction. He asked what I wanted to do with my life and helped me mind-map everything I loved, gradually narrowing it down to four words: Psychology, Youth Work, Mentoring and Coaching. Looking back, I wasn’t just choosing a career; I was discovering my purpose.I relocated to Birmingham and began working alongside my mum, supporting vulnerable women experiencing addiction, domestic violence and other challenges through workshops, talks and community events. I later joined Jam Zone Hub, where I developed my mentoring skills and built meaningful relationships with young people. Alongside this, I volunteered with Barnardo’s and ACE, gaining invaluable experience supporting people from different backgrounds.My passion has always been bigger than a job. I believe the next generation deserves to inherit possibilities, not limitations. I want young people to understand that their postcode, family circumstances or past do not determine their future.I believe in the power of speaking life into young people, especially those who have spent their lives hearing what they cannot become. Sometimes, being the person who sees someone’s potential before they see it themselves can change their entire trajectory.My upbringing taught me that people are not defined by their lowest moments or the struggles of the generations before them. I want to help young people break cycles, rewrite narratives and create better opportunities for those who follow. And if I can help even one young person believe in themselves enough to break a cycle, i may have planted a seed that I will never see grow but i know it will bear fruits that will sustain the next Generation