As part of The Duke of Edinburgh and Dallaglio Foundation’s partnership, ‘Powerful Together’, Mowden Park were pleased to welcome Former England World Cup Winner and Founder of the Dallaglio Foundation Lawrence Dallaglio OBE to the Northern Echo Arena today.

Lawrence paid a personal visit to mark the formal launch of the initiative that is working in conjunction with Mowden Park Community Scheme to allow young people from the local area an opportunity to access the DofE awards.

Established in 2013 the ‘Powerful Together’ partnership sees the Dallaglio Foundation link up with the DofE charity to encourage rugby clubs to run the Dof E Programmes for its young rugby enthusiasts and community members. Aimed at participants aged 14 to 24 the DofE uses different activities and outdoor pursuits to encourage the development of key life skills such as confidence, commitment and team working.

Peter Westgarth, CEO, DofE said: “Sport is such a powerful tool to focus young people. Combining this with the DofE will give these young people an exceptional start to their life journeys, exposing them to different experiences and giving them the chance to nurture key employability skills. Through rugby we can reach out to more young people and are hugely grateful to Darlington Mowden Park Rugby Club and the Dallaglio Foundation for their support of this initiative.”

Founded in 1956 by HRH Duke of Edinburgh, a DofE award is now widely acknowledged as the world’s leading achievement award for young people. Mowden Park Community Manager Anne Rose is looking forward to developing the DofE programme at the club:“We are delighted to become a Licensed Partner of the DofE and are thrilled to be offered the chance to engage with and deliver such a widely recognised Award through the support of the Dallaglio Foundation. We’ve already had a tremendous uptake with young people for Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards”

“It has taken a lot of work to get to the point we are at now but I am really looking forward to seeing how the DofE Programmes develop in the area. It is fantastic to have Lawrence (Dallaglio) here at Mowden Park to help promote the partnership and it gives the young people a real boost”

As founder of the Dallaglio Foundation, Lawrence stated “I know the power sport has for social change and I want to share it with young people, giving them the chance to find their own success, which is my charity’s key focus. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is the perfect way to help achieve this.

“Completing their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award with Darlington Mowden Park Rugby Club young people will volunteer in their communities, undertake exciting, taxing challenges and get fit while having fun. This project will open up opportunities for young people to develop valuable skills and gain experience in settings they would not have had the chance to access before.”

Picture:
Lawrence Dallaglio (Former England Player and Dallaglio Foundation Founder), is pictured with staff from DofE, Mowden Park, the Dallaglio Foundation and a group on young DofE participants

Tickets allow you access to both fixtures and are now on sale from the Arena, Adults are £10 and U16s £5: Contact the Arena during working hours on t.01325 350267.