Gallagher Premiership Rugby FInal 2022

LEICESTER TIGERS V SARACENS
The Stats
84% of
participants have
improved their
functional Maths
and English
since HITZ
started in 2008
80% of
participants
report an
improvement in
personal, social
and physical
well-being
More than 75%
of participants
go on to achieve
a positive
progression
into further
education,
training or
employment
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Meet Our HITZ Award Winners 2021
Dawda Darboe of Bristol Bears - Physical
Activity Award Winner
Rewarding progress and development in sport
and physical activity
Until Dawda (second left) joined HITZ, he was
not in education and was a shy individual who
was struggling with loneliness and poor mental
health, but after taking part in the programme,
he developed the necessary skills to secure
employment and improve his outlook. Darboe
is now playing rugby for Avonmouth RFC 1st
XV while working in full-time employment for
Molson Group as an IT apprentice. Wayne Morris,
Premiership Rugby’s Corporate Responsibility
Director, comments, “Dawda is now engaged fully
in the rugby network, he’s playing regular rugby
and is part of a team, a club and the rugby family,
and it’s improved every aspect of his life including
his mental wellbeing.’
Graham Binns of Bath Rugby - Champion
Award Winner
Recognising special individuals who go above and
beyond the call of duty
Universally popular with those who are a part
of the scheme, Binns (left) was inspired to get
involved after losing contact with his children.
Now retired, he supports participants with their
reading and writing in addition to working
through their emotional needs. His ‘Not Giving
Up’ session received a standing ovation after
he shared his life challenges. Jane Howard, CVC
Marketing and CSR Manager said “It was the
longevity that he’s been volunteering with HITZ
for that won him the award. For years he’s been
helping young people get into work, supporting
them through educational activities and
mentoring them.”
Callum Pope of Exeter Chiefs - Young
Achiever Award Winner
Rewarding the overcoming of challenges
Having previously battled with severe social
anxiety before joining the Chiefs’ HITZ
programme in 2019, Pope’s (right) stellar work
throughout the programme and his subsequent
apprenticeship working on HITZ saw him claim
the award. Callum says ‘HITZ was a second
chance for me. It helped me to take responsibility
to turn my life around.’
Leah Cromwell of Gloucester Rugby -
Academic Achievement Award Winner
Recognising significant academic progress
Having previously obtained no qualifications
due to her mental health struggles, HITZ allowed
Leah (second right) to improve her confidence,
leave an unhealthy relationship and obtain
qualifications. She is now studying Health and
Social Care at her local college while undergoing
a placement at a nursery and hopes to work as
a support worker when she finishes her studies.
Leah on the impact of the programme on her life,
“HITZ has been brilliant. It’s given me a path in
life that I thought I’d lost. It gave me a reason to
get out of bed every day, to keep positive and
take control of my life. The staff really got me.
They spoke to me like an equal, it was so different
from school. I couldn’t have got to where I am
now without them.”
To find out more and how to enrol
on HITZ, visit: hitzrugby.com
/premrugby /PremiershipRugby /premrugby /PremiershipRugby
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