A teenager from the Worcester Warriors HITZ Programme has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.
Connor Mitchell is one of the four finalists for the HITZ Community Impact Award supported by Wooden Spoon. The award will be presented at the HITZ Awards on 4 February.
The Community Impact Award is all about the time and commitment given by a HITZ young person and recognises a HITZ participant’s contribution through volunteering and service.
It looks not only for the impact of the young person’s volunteering on the community, but also the impact of the volunteering on the HITZ participant themselves.
Worcester Warriors HITZ Manager Stuart Brooks said: “Behavioural and anger issues haunted Connor’s everyday actions before he came across HITZ. Now, Connor has become more relaxed and found a new respect for those less fortunate than himself.
“He made great strides and to this day has maintained his new found skills, using them to help others from within the project and the wider community.”
The multi award-winning HITZ programme uses rugby to increase young people's resilience, self-reliance and confidence and gives them the skills to get back into education, apprenticeships and employment.
And, as a national HITZ partner, Wooden Spoon is supporting the Community Impact award.
“Wooden Spoon are proud to support the HITZ programme and see first-hand how these young people grow in confidence.” said Matt Mitchell, Rugby Manager for Wooden Spoon.
“All the nominees are strong contenders for this award and it will be a close call. One of the most important things is how they have embraced their new-found skills and apply them in all areas of their lives.”
HITZ Awards – Community Impact award shortlist:
• Connor Mitchell – Worcester Warriors
• Ben Bradley – Bath Rugby
• Jacob King – Bath Rugby
• Katie McGrory – Sale Sharks
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. Please visit hitzrugby.com to find out more.
The HITZ Awards will take place on February 4.