A former Workington rugby union player has highlighted his former club in a special social value initiative.
The Zebras Under-16s team has taken centre stage in the project, put together by well-being specialists Little Blackbird Ltd and Morgan Sindall Construction.
Little Blackbird was founded by ex-Zebra Ade Dakers and his wife Claire, and is based in Chester.
Little Blackbird is a wellbeing focused organisation which offers workshops and social value projects, across business, education and community settings.
Specialising in masculinity and wellbeing, it aims to positively challenge cultures and beliefs by delivering programmes that improve communication, strengthen emotional intelligence and explore the power of vulnerability.
Morgan Sindall Construction funded the project as part of its work on the Workington Innovation Centre.
This project, filmed at Workington Zebras, is The Man I Want to Become and is designed to promote positive masculinity, resilience and mental wellbeing among young men in west Cumbria.
Ade went to Stainburn School in Workington and says that the Ellis Sports Ground, home of the Zebras, was virtually his second home from the age of 14.
Even when he was studying at Chester University he would travel home to play for his home-town club.
He said: “That’s part of the reason to deliver the project to give back to a club that gave me so much.”
After finishing a drama degree at Chester he worked as an actor and facilitator, delivering in a range of settings, including prisons and schools.
He then worked in the corporate field delivering team building, leadership and emotional intelligence training before setting up Little Blackbird in 2022.
The organisation works to challenge traditional cultural beliefs that discourage vulnerability, aiming to equip young men with the skills to express their feelings, build healthy relationships, and strengthen resilience.
The Little Blackbird podcast Tackling it Together, in which Ade sits down with male guests to promote honest and vulnerable connections and powerful conversations, further supports their key objectives around making a positive impact and challenging stigma and stereotypes relating to male well-being.
Suicide remains the leading cause of death among young people in the UK, with boys and men accounting for nearly 75 per cent of cases. Cumbria, in particular, has higher-than-average suicide rates.
The initiative was inspired by the tragic loss of Mike Newton to suicide. Mike was a Workington local and a friend of Ade’s.
“The Man I Want To Become” was subsequently developed by Little Blackbird as an early-intervention, film-led programme that helps young men understand healthy masculinity, improve communication, and build accountability and emotional resilience.
The project combined on-pitch workshops, interactive exercises, and mentoring sessions with members of the Morgan Sindall Construction team.
Topics explored included vulnerability, emotional intelligence, toughness, role models, and support systems. The collaboration also provided unique exposure to the construction industry, including site visits and discussions with professionals serving as positive male role models.
A key feature of the project was the creation of a short film capturing the players’ reflections on the type of men they want to become, alongside guidance from Morgan Sindall Construction mentors.
Ade added: “It was humbling to return to my old club which meant so much to me as a teenager. The Zebras is more than a rugby club, it’s a foundation of belonging, resilience, and well-being, aligning perfectly with Little Blackbird’s mission.”
Little Blackbird will be significantly expanding their Social Value offering across the UK in 2026, and hope to deliver additional projects in Cumbria.
