Warriors HITZ Support Officer Dan Hart last night scooped the HITZ Champion Award at the inaugural HITZ Awards evening at Barclays HQ in London.
Dan was one of three candidates nominated for the award supported by Comic Relief which is designed to recognise a HITZ participant or member of the community who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to help someone on the programme to overcome personal barriers.
Dan from Norton, Worcester, is an inspiration for the participants at the club. In particular Nathan Collins whose disruptive home life had led him into struggles with drugs and a period of homelessness.
Dan has supported Nathan by teaching him life skills which have given him a positive outlook for the future and worked tirelessly to ensure that he is safe from his previous circle of crime.
Minister for Sport Helen Grant also acclaimed five inspirational teenagers at Premiership Rugby's inaugural HITZ Awards.
The Minister is a long-term supporter of Premiership Rugby's multi award-winning programme that seeks to tackle some of the greatest challenges facing young people today – unemployment, crime and disillusionment.
The award night was not however just about the five main award winners as Premiership Rugby acknowledged 11 other teenagers who won Highly Commended prizes.
Anthony Martin and Aaron Stanley of the Warriors HITZ programme were both Highly Commended in the Community Impact Award and Young Achiever of the Year respectively.
Grant said: “These programmes stand or fall by the quality and commitment of the staff who work with the young people.
“HITZ staff have been singled out time and again by the youngsters for playing crucial roles in helping them change their lives. I want to thank them for that and to encourage them to continue the great work they are doing.”
“Each of the young people who have also made it to the shortlist have my admiration for the efforts they have made to change their own lives. But I also want to praise them for their work with other participants in the HITZ programme and for the contribution many of them have made to their local club or community through their efforts as volunteers.
“HITZ is more than just rugby. The programme integrates with other organisations such as the probation service and training providers to use rugby union to help young people learn skills, find work or return to education. It is having a positive effect on the lives of the young people it deals with.”