Matchday programme: Bristol Bears vs Wasps

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BRISTOL BEARS
community foundation
Dawda said: “I wanted to go back into education but because it was
easier to be lazy and spend all day playing Fortnite, I didn’t do that.
“In 2019, I had the opportunity to start up in education again
and my support worker Hettie introduced me to the HITZ
programme. The programme and meeting other people like me
helped a lot.
“I’ve learned how to build my CV and where to go looking for jobs,
improve my interview skills and plan for career progression.
“I’m applying for warehouse jobs at the minute, as long-term I’m
still not sure what I want to do. As an individual, I tend to keep to
myself, but this course has helped me to open up a lot more and be
more trusting towards people so I’m sure opportunities will open
up.”
Nearly 16,000 young people have engaged in the HITZ programme
since it was created in 2008, and Ben Woolfson, one of Dawda’s
tutors, believes the programme’s great strength is in the diversity
of young people that it can help.
“Our students come from many different backgrounds, some have
a range of learning difficulties and additional needs but it’s been so
impressive bringing all of these students together and seeing what
they learn from each other.”
“We’re trying to give these students confidence so they can go out
and take up as many of life’s opportunities as possible,” he said.
Wayne Morris, the Community & Corporate Social Responsibility
Director at Premiership Rugby said: “If young people like Dawda
want to reach for the stars then we will be there to help them every
step of the way. Building the confidence of young people is a key
objective of HITZ - It’s inspiring to see the way HITZ has helped this
young man.
“HITZ succeeds because it uses rugby’s core values of teamwork,
respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship to support young
people to make positive changes in their life.
“Starting in a field in the London Borough of Hackney in 2008, HITZ
has gone from strength-to-strength and helped participants turn
their lives around through gaining qualifications and developing
their personal, life and employability skills.”
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Having had no plan for his future, Dawda Darboe is
now reaching for the stars thanks to Premiership
Rugby’s HITZ programme at Bristol Bears.
Delivered by all of Premiership Rugby’s stakeholder clubs, HITZ
works with more than 2,000 14-23 year-olds across England
every year and uses rugby’s core values to develop the personal
skills, life skills and employability skills of young people not in
education, employment or training (NEET).
HITZ, which is supported by the CVC Foundation, Land Rover,
Wooden Spoon and SCL Education, is one of Premiership
Rugby’s flagship community programmes. It is delivered by all
Premiership Rugby clubs and Dawda is a great example of the
way it can have a hugely positive effect on the lives of young
people.
Originally from Gambia, Dawda moved to Knowle, Bristol at the
age of five before being forced to return to his place of birth
shortly after. In 2017, he returned to the UK after two and a half
years away to live in Shirehampton with his sister. With no plan
for the future, after being introduced to the HITZ programme,
Dawda’s life has gone from strength to strength.
Dawda is one of the inspirational young people that we will
be turning the spotlight on across Round 12 of Gallagher
Premiership Rugby (5-7 March) when all matches will be
dedicated to our award-winning community programmes that
benefit around 250,000 people annually.
Thanks to HITZ, Dawda worked towards completing his
Employability Level 1 course with the Bristol Bears branch of the
programme, which also inspired him to join his local rugby club
Avonmouth RFC, showing how far he had come professionally
and personally.
BRISTOL BEARS VS WASPS | 2020/21
BRISTOL BEARS VS WASPS | 2020/21