Dallaglio RugbyWorks: Raising aspirations
Dallaglio RugbyWorks, and Linklaters, a global law firm with a strong commitment to social responsibility, have joined forces to bring their expertise and passion to The Grove School, a school in Haringey for students with special educational needs
At the beginning of the partnership during lockdown, Dallaglio RugbyWorks and Linklaters organised virtual Career Taster Days (CTDs) for the students, providing them with a glimpse of the professional world and the skills required to succeed in it. The events were a success, with students from The Grove School engaging with high-profile lawyers from Linklaters, asking questions and expressing their aspirations.
Now that the world has opened up again, the partnership has evolved into something even more impactful. The Career Taster Days (CTDs) have transitioned into in-person events at Linklaters' offices in central London, providing students with the opportunity to explore the city and experience a corporate environment first-hand. The students have participated in a range of activities, from CV and interview workshops, to showcasing their creativity and teamwork skills, all with the support and guidance of Linklaters employees.
We are extremely proud of this partnership, and continue to build on our collective achievements to offer aspiration raising opportunities to our young people, and employee engagement and career development opportunities for Linklaters staff.
The Spring/Summer of 2023 will see the introduction of a 1-1 mentoring programme between six Linklaters employees and six post-16 students from The Grove, who are on the Dallaglio RugbyWorks programme. The mentoring programme aims to help the students develop their personal and professional skills, whilst also focusing on one of RugbyWorks’ key cornerstones, raising aspirations.
Staff from Dallaglio RugbyWorks have also hosted safeguarding training for Linklaters volunteers, educating them on the types of issues that can be faced when working with vulnerable young people. This has aided career development on both sides, and has increased the understanding of the beneficiaries of the partnership. The Linklaters volunteers have now also been onboarded onto our safeguarding concern portal, so that they can report any issues if they arise during their sessions with the young people.
The success of our partnership has been echoed by the students themselves. Adam, a 15-year-old student from The Grove School, speaks highly of the experiences he had with us. "The career taster days I took part in last year gave me an opportunity to learn about jobs I never knew existed, take part in creative tasks that gave me a sense of what the world of work looks like, and speak with new and interesting people and ask them questions about how they got to where they are," he says. "I'm really excited to attend the next Career Taster Day on April 25th, as well as the upcoming visit to Linklaters' head office in London. It will be great to meet and speak with lots of people in the organisation who do a variety of roles and also see what a big central London office looks like!"
In conclusion, our partnership is a true example of the positive impact that can be achieved through collaboration and a shared commitment to social responsibility. As we continue to work together to provide opportunities for young people with special educational needs and excluded young people in general, we are sure to inspire more success stories and set a standard for others to follow.