Grace - Apprentice to Lead Coach

I’m Grace, a former apprentice at Dallaglio RugbyWorks and I have just been offered a full-time role as a Lead Coach, which I have recently started.

I started my apprenticeship with Dallaglio RugbyWorks and Coach Core in December 2021. Before getting my apprenticeship, I was lost in what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to work with young people but didn’t know which sector I wanted to work in. During school I struggled and didn’t cope well, I was kicked out of school, kept getting into trouble and had low attendance. I didn’t get much support or guidance from the staff at school so figuring out what way my future would go was hard.

After being kicked out of school and going through that experience, I realised I wanted better for myself. I started trying to focus more but I wasn’t very academic and couldn’t concentrate. I went to sixth form and completed work experience with Charlton Community Trust as a youth worker which I enjoyed and carried on volunteering there for nearly 2 years. During this time I would run sports sessions for the young people attending. By doing this, I realised that this is what I wanted to do. This is also how I found my apprenticeship, through the staff at the youth centre.

My apprenticeship was with Coach Core who find apprentices for different employers. We all had interviews with all employers and luckily, Dallaglio RugbyWorks chose me. I have seen different aspects of the organisation and learned a lot from my time as an apprentice with Coach Core and Dallaglio RugbyWorks.

As my apprenticeship was drawing to a close, I was unsure what I was going to do after. I had a meeting with my line manager and was informed that they would like to keep me on as a full-time Lead Coach in London. I accepted and was thrilled with the offer. By being offered the full-time role, it makes me feel like I am on a positive path compared to the one I was on before my apprenticeship.