2026 Enhanced

Sharks Watch Impact Report 2024/25

As the charitable arm of Sale Sharks, the Foundation delivers education, health and wellbeing, and rugby development programmes across the North West, engaging over 21,000 people in 2024/25. Programmes span disability-inclusive rugby, mental health support for adults and veterans, schools-based education and employability initiatives, and pathways into grassroots and academy rugby, with several programmes independently evaluated by Manchester Metropolitan University.

Report snapshot
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About

Disability-inclusive rugby (Tackle Together, Crusaders Fin Club); mental health & wellbeing programmes (HeadStart, Sharks Forces, Walking Rugby); schools education programmes (Eat Well Play Safe, Try2Connect, Alternative Provision mentoring, HITZ employability); rugby development pathways, camps and residentials; matchday and community engagement events

Key Metrics

Key Metric 1 21,212 people engaged with in 2024/25
Key Metric 2 17,708 people played some form of rugby through Foundation programmes
Key Metric 3 More than £9,000 raised through Foundation Day; 9,000+ given back to grassroots rugby clubs

Key Outcomes

  • 88% of girls in the Girls Tackle Rugby programme reported feeling more confident, per independent research with Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport
  • 89% of learners who completed the HITZ employability programme progressed into education, employment or training
  • 20% increase in girls' overall physical literacy score, evidenced through the Girls Tackle Rugby evaluation with Manchester Metropolitan University

Geography

North West

Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
£3,112,419 raised to deliver projects in 2024/25; total income £2,920,000 and total expenditure £2,850,000 (year ended 31 August 2024)
Key Metric 2
28,692 people took part in activities; 307,544 visits to sessions; 17,793 sessions delivered
Key Metric 3
More than 16,000 young people engaged across early years and primary programmes; 34 Premier League Primary Stars partner schools; over 7,000 healthy meals provided...
Blackpool FC Sports College A Team won the CEFA league title 2024/25; BFC School received 'Good' Ofsted rating in November 2024; Norbreck Primary Academy reached EFL Utilita Kids Cup National Final at Wembley, winning Regional Finals unbeaten
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
Total income £659,217 and total expenditure £674,216 (year ended 30 June 2025, charity no. 1137275); 10,252 individuals engaged across the 2024/25 season, with 9,713...
Key Metric 2
82% of participants reported positive impact on mental wellbeing; 84% on physical wellbeing; 82% on sense of community; 86% made new friends since joining
Key Metric 3
70% agreed they made positive changes to their life as a result of CUF activity; 63% of adult participants felt a strong sense of...
56.7% of young people hardly ever or never feel lonely vs national average; 94% of participants feel welcome, safe and included; CUF participants ranked higher than Cambridge and UK averages for happiness, life satisfaction and worthwhile life
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
6,744 participants engaged across education, social inclusion, employability, heritage and health programmes in 2024/25
Key Metric 2
37,357 hours of positive activity delivered; £3.9 million in social value generated
Key Metric 3
4,805 pupils supported across 58 education settings; 300+ young people referred across six Engage hubs in Northampton, Kettering, Corby and Milton Keynes
89% of young people attending Engage programme made positive steps; 92% of employability learners moved to positive progression
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
18,500 people engaged in 2024-25; 10,829 hours of coaching delivered; 13,880 school and college participants
Key Metric 2
83% of HITZ participants progressed into education, employment or training; 6,950 women and girls introduced to rugby; 15% of participants had a disability or...
Key Metric 3
3,000 young lives impacted through Tackling Insights STEM programme; 700+ hot nutritious meals provided to children in school holidays; 2,750 match day participants
83% of Fit as a Bull participants incorporated physical exercise into daily routine; 79% saw increased confidence; combined weight loss of 129kg from 24/25 cohort; 37% increase in feeling inspired through Tackling Insights