Mikey Southall admits that as a teenager in Worcester he became involved in petty crime, drugs and alcohol abuse but since getting on-board with the award-winning HITZ programme he hasn’t looked back, turning his life around and channelling his frustrations onto the rugby field.
Delivered by Premiership Rugby and funded by partners Barclays, Comic Relief, Land Rover and Wooden Spoon, HITZ works to boost young people’s confidence and resilience.
And Mikey – part of the Worcester Warriors HITZ programme – couldn’t have been more happy to attend the programme’s national launch in Lambeth last week.
“HITZ has changed my life in various ways,” said Mikey. “Not just the rugby but also my tutor who has helped me a lot with my confidence.
“The rugby has also helped a lot and showed me a lot of discipline, and helped me take out some of my anger on the pitch as well.”
HITZ was launched three years ago with programmes currently running at six clubs, including Michael’s home club Worcester Warriors.
Through a structured rugby programme, life skills training and mentoring, the scheme acts as an entry point to tackling some of the challenges facing disenfranchised young people across the county.
Last week’s launch in London unveiled an expanded HITZ programme at all 12 Premiership Rugby clubs, with organisers aiming to engage 9,000 young people aged 11 to 19-years-old. 1,440 NEETS (Not in Education, Employment or Training) will also get employability support.
Worcester Warriors HITZ Officer Stuart Brooks believes Michael is the perfect example of why the campaign is so important.
“I want to make HITZ Worcester Warriors as big as I can, and branch into Birmingham and reach a lot more people,” said Stuart. “It's going to take a lot of time, effort and commitment but we will get there.
“It's not just about the rugby, it's about putting in place the lifestyle changes, education, sorting out the different issues that young people have.
“That is the biggest part of it – getting to the root of their problems, helping them understand who they are and not putting a burden or a brick wall in front of them. The HITZ programme changes people's lives.”
The award winning HITZ programme tackles some of the greatest challenges facing young people today – unemployment, crime and disillusionment.
Delivered nationally by Premiership Rugby and funded by national partners Barclays, Comic Relief, Land Rover and Wooden Spoon, HITZ uses rugby to increase young people's resilience, self-reliance and confidence.
It gives them the skills to get back into education, vocational training, apprenticeships and employment. HITZ gives those with no hope new hope. Please visit hitzrugby.com to find out more.
To see a video of Mikey at the HITZ launch last week, click here.