Northampton Saints’ Community and Foundation teams have launched a new programme alongside charity, Maddy’s Mark – which focuses on bringing rugby sessions alongside mental health education to girls within schools across Northamptonshire.
Maddy’s Mark is a charity that supports the mental wellbeing of girls and young women by building resilience, confidence, and camaraderie.
The charity was founded in memory of Maddy Lawrence – who tragically passed away in March 2022 at the age of 20, following a rugby injury while playing for UWE, her university team.
Despite a courageous battle in the hospital, Maddy sadly succumbed to sepsis two weeks after the injury. Bright, loving, and athletic, she was described by friends as a shining light in their lives, and she brought laughter and joy to her close-knit family.
The charity was established in Maddy’s memory by her family, determined to carry on her legacy, supporting causes that Maddy was deeply passionate about – mental health and rugby for girls and young women.
Northampton Saints Foundation and Community team have now partnered with the charity to deliver a programme bringing rugby sessions and mental health education to schools.
Current funding for the pilot program will help engage four schools for two hours a week across a six-week period, with one hour of the session focusing on rugby and the other hour on mental health.
The aim of the programme is to engage over 200 girls aged 10-13 across the six-week period. The rugby sessions will be delivered by qualified community rugby coaches from the Club's community team, and the mental health sessions by expert mental health educators and professionals from Northampton Saints Foundation.
Northampton Saints’ Women’s and Girls Rugby Development Officer, Tabitha Banks, said: “Maddy’s story is incredibly powerful, and as a Club we are honoured to be working with the charity.
“We hope the programme can help carry on Maddy’s legacy by supporting more girls playing rugby and educating them on the importance of mental health.”
Emilie Harbottle, Head of Education and Inclusion at Northampton Saints Foundation, added: “At Northampton Saints Foundation, we’re passionate about supporting mental health, and we’re proud to partner with Maddy’s Mark to empower strong minds, build confidence, and help create a brighter future for girls and young women.”
For more information on this programme, or any of our other community schools programmes, please contact community@northamptonsaints.co.uk or TabithaBanks@northamptonsaints.co.uk.