Worcester Warriors’ successful HITZ Programme has been given a further boost with the announcement that flanker Mike Williams will be this season’s HITZ Ambassador.
As part of his role, Williams will support the work of the HITZ staff and will act as a mentor to the young people enrolled on the programme.
Williams said: “I’m delighted to be taking on the role of HITZ Ambassador and I’m looking forward to working with everyone involved with the programme.
“Rugby is something that can have a positive impact on young people and can be used as a tool to engage them and help them in different aspects of their lives.
“The programme has already helped a lot of people across Worcestershire so I can’t wait to get started with the current group.”
The HITZ Programme, which picked-up the prestigious Community Programme of the Year Award at the 2014 Rugby Expo Awards, 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.
Warriors’ HITZ Programme was launched in January 2013 and has so far helped over 40 youngsters get back into education, vocational training, apprenticeships or employment.
On top of that, over 1000 young people in the areas of highest need across Worcestershire have benefitted from the programme’s Pitch and Play initiative, where staff deliver a programme of activities ranging from rugby to cooking.
Warriors HITZ Officer Stuart Brooks said: “At Warriors we are committed to helping young people across Worcestershire develop the skills needed to ensure they have a successful future.
“To have Mike on board is a huge boost for our HITZ Programme and I am sure the young people he works with will learn a lot from him.
“The HITZ Programme has continued to go from strength-to-strength and its impact on a national scale was illustrated again last week with the award at the Rugby Expo Dinner.”
For more information about HITZ or to enquire about joining the programme, please contact Stuart.Brooks@warriors.co.uk.