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  • Jamie's Story

    Jamie's Story

    Jamie started on School of Hard Knocks’ Schools Programme just over a year ago. His behaviour had become unmanageable at school and he constantly found himself in trouble. Since starting the programme Jamie’s behaviour and way of thinking has changed dramatically. Jamie’s teachers not only find him much easier to handle, but have noticed that he contributes positively in lessons, asks insightful questions and has more respect for others. Read more

  • Macy's Story

    Macy's Story

    When School of Hard Knocks started working with Macy on the Schools Programme, she was getting involved in fights on a regular basis. Not knowing how to handle her behaviour, Macy's school recommended she get involved with SOHK. Each week the team found a new way to engage Macy more and more with the rugby sessions so as to help her improve her confidence both on and off the pitch. Macy now mentors other students, trains with Quins Girls Rugby and dreams of playing internationally for Wales. Read more

  • Jo and Angela's Story

    Jo and Angela's Story

    When we met Jo just under eleven months ago, her attendance at school was well below average. She had started to find it increasingly difficult to control her emotions, which in turn caused her relationships with peers and teachers to suffer. Eleven months since starting on SOHK's Schools Programme and Jo now feels much happier, more confident and secure in herself. Read more

  • Lisa's Story

    Lisa's Story

    When Lisa started on School of Hard Knocks’ Adult Course, she felt as though she wasn’t doing anything with her life. She spent her days alone inside her house and had few people to talk to which impacted negatively on her mental health and caused her to develop poor self-esteem. Just under a year later and Lisa has completely transformed. She has gone back to playing rugby and has continued to meet up with her SOHK course-mate. Read more

  • Jamie's Story
  • Macy's Story
  • Jo and Angela's Story
  • Lisa's Story
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  1. What we do
  2. Our Stories

Our Stories

School of Hard Knocks has seen many incredible success stories among our many participants.  If you would like to help us create more stories like these, please support us.

Joe's Story

Joe's Story

Joe signed up to School of Hard Knocks’ Adult Course through a volunteering programme; he was both excited and anxious on his first day. Having become accustomed to a fairly isolated lifestyle, he found being in groups uncomfortable. Despite these initial concerns he felt welcome, valued and understood by the people around him. He found that he shared experiences with many other participants and could be himself without judgement. For the first time he felt like he was part of a team. Read more

Published: 26th November, 2020

Author: School of Hard Knocks

Related topics:
  • Our Stories
Jamie's Story

Jamie's Story

Jamie started on School of Hard Knocks’ Schools Programme just over a year ago. His behaviour had become unmanageable at school and he constantly found himself in trouble. Since starting the programme Jamie’s behaviour and way of thinking has changed dramatically. Jamie’s teachers not only find him much easier to handle, but have noticed that he contributes positively in lessons, asks insightful questions and has more respect for others. Read more

Published: 24th September, 2020

Updated: 11th January, 2021

Author: School of Hard Knocks

Related topics:
  • Our Stories
Macy's Story

Macy's Story

When School of Hard Knocks started working with Macy on the Schools Programme, she was getting involved in fights on a regular basis. Not knowing how to handle her behaviour, Macy's school recommended she get involved with SOHK. Each week the team found a new way to engage Macy more and more with the rugby sessions so as to help her improve her confidence both on and off the pitch. Macy now mentors other students, trains with Quins Girls Rugby and dreams of playing internationally for Wales. Read more

Published: 24th September, 2020

Author: School of Hard Knocks

Related topics:
  • Our Stories
Jo and Angela's Story

Jo and Angela's Story

When we met Jo just under eleven months ago, her attendance at school was well below average. She had started to find it increasingly difficult to control her emotions, which in turn caused her relationships with peers and teachers to suffer. Eleven months since starting on SOHK's Schools Programme and Jo now feels much happier, more confident and secure in herself. Read more

Published: 24th September, 2020

Author: School of Hard Knocks

Related topics:
  • Our Stories
Lisa's Story

Lisa's Story

When Lisa started on School of Hard Knocks’ Adult Course, she felt as though she wasn’t doing anything with her life. She spent her days alone inside her house and had few people to talk to which impacted negatively on her mental health and caused her to develop poor self-esteem. Just under a year later and Lisa has completely transformed. She has gone back to playing rugby and has continued to meet up with her SOHK course-mate. Read more

Published: 24th September, 2020

Updated: 6th October, 2020

Author: School of Hard Knocks

Related topics:
  • Our Stories
Karen's Story

Karen's Story

When we met Karen in January, she had a lung condition called COPD which was gradually getting worse. She was a heavy smoker and was rarely active. Upon completing SOHK's Adult Course, Karen not only found a job that she now loves but also found an incredible passion for rugby. She decided to further explore her newfound love for the sport and took part in a homeless rugby initiative where she played at Murrayfield stadium during half-time between Edinburgh and Ulster in front of 5,000 fans. Read more

Published: 24th September, 2020

Author: School of Hard Knocks

Related topics:
  • Our Stories
Aggie's Story

Aggie's Story

The physical element of our Adult Courses was why Aggie started at School of Hard Knocks, but the people were why she stayed. She found that though her course-mates had different stories, their experience of life was very similar to her own. Aggie felt understood by the people around her which subsequently engendered a supportive environment for her to thrive and fulfil her maximum potential. Read more

Published: 24th September, 2020

Author: School of Hard Knocks

Related topics:
  • Case studies / stories
  • Our Stories
Meet Alissio

Meet Alissio

Have a read of one of our latest heartwarming success stories showing what can happen when we work together! Read more

Published: 20th June, 2019

Author: Katherine Yorke

Related topics:
  • Our Stories
Ali's Story

Ali's Story

When we first met Ali, he was very hyperactive and badly behaved in lessons, often shouting out and being verbally aggressive towards other pupils. One day he told us his story... Read more

Published: 12th April, 2019

Updated: 15th April, 2019

Author: Katherine Yorke

Related topics:
  • Our Stories
Meet Connor

Meet Connor

The changes in Connor have been astounding and show the very best that SOHK can do. Connor himself has seen how he has grown and changed... Read more

Published: 26th February, 2019

Author: Katherine Yorke

Related topics:
  • Our Stories
Meet Malcolm

Meet Malcolm

Seeing things differently - Malcolm Johnson tells us how a learning he had a degenerative eye condition led him to find SOHK and feel part of a team again. Read more

Published: 25th January, 2019

Updated: 20th June, 2019

Author: Katherine Yorke

Related topics:
  • Our Stories
Meet Tom

Meet Tom

Meet one of our recent graduates from our Adult Employability course, Tom. He tells us why getting back into work has helped him restore his sense of self-worth. Read more

Published: 3rd December, 2018

Updated: 10th January, 2019

Author: Katherine Yorke

Related topics:
  • Our Stories

Pedro - N London 2011

Pedro suffered dreadful abuse from his stepfather. He captained School of Hard Knocks Haringey, retrained and now works in IT. Read more

Published: 11th July, 2017

Updated: 31st October, 2018

Author: Jack Lewars

Related topics:
  • Our Stories

Mike - Cardiff 2015

Mike was kicked out of school, lost his dad and wanted to provide for his family. Since attending SOHK, he has been working full-time. Read more

Published: 11th July, 2017

Updated: 31st October, 2018

Author: Jack Lewars

Related topics:
  • Our Stories

Liam - Cardiff 2015

Liam came on our televised Cardiff course in 2015 - now he works for SOHK, changing lives every day through rugby. Read more

Published: 11th July, 2017

Updated: 31st October, 2018

Author: Jack Lewars

Related topics:
  • Our Stories

Christine - S London 2014

"This has been so fun. We all provide inspiration and support for each other." Read more

Published: 8th July, 2017

Updated: 31st October, 2018

Author: Jack Lewars

Related topics:
  • Our Stories
Sarah - S London 2018

Sarah - S London 2018

Sarah (not her real name) presented as unkempt, shy and unable to make eye contact. Now she has her self-confidence back and a host of new friends. Read more

Published: 4th July, 2017

Updated: 31st October, 2018

Author: Jack Lewars

Related topics:
  • Our Stories
Elliot - E London 2016

Elliot - E London 2016

Elliot used to make trouble for his classmates; now he makes trouble for the opposition on the rugby pitch. Read more

Published: 3rd July, 2017

Updated: 31st October, 2018

Author: Jack Lewars

Related topics:
  • Our Stories
Frankie - E London 2016

Frankie - E London 2016

Frankie is a Year 11 in his third year of SOHK for Schools, at a school in East London. He now has the confidence to do everyday things. Read more

Published: 2nd July, 2017

Updated: 31st October, 2018

Author: Jack Lewars

Related topics:
  • Our Stories
Holly - Cardiff 2018

Holly - Cardiff 2018

Holly (not her real name) is a Year 9 student at Cantonian High School, who has been engaged in the SOHK programme since September 2017 Read more

Published: 1st July, 2017

Updated: 31st October, 2018

Author: Jack Lewars

Related topics:
  • Our Stories
Lloyd - Cardiff 2018

Lloyd - Cardiff 2018

Lloyd is an adult participant in SOHK Cymru who has secured a place in September to study barbering at Cardiff and Vale College. Read more

Published: 30th June, 2017

Updated: 31st October, 2018

Author: Jack Lewars

Related topics:
  • Our Stories

Salwa - S London 2014

Salwa would recommend School of Hard Knocks to anyone. She says it helped her to be herself again. Read more

Published: 6th June, 2017

Updated: 31st October, 2018

Author: Jack Lewars

Related topics:
  • Our Stories
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Showing 10 of 22

Latest

  • Back in the Game - England  Courses

    Back in the Game - England Courses

    As a direct response to those who have lost their jobs as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, School of Hard Knocks have created a shortened, online and high impact version of our standard eight week course called Back in the Game

  • Control the Controllable

    Control the Controllable

    Controlling the Controllable is one of SOHK’s guiding principles. Life presents us with a mixture of elements that are outside and within our control. It is always more energy-efficient and rewarding to focus on those elements within our control.

  • SOHK does LEJOG!

    SOHK does LEJOG!

    Get fit and have fun this winter by taking part in our virtual challenge of cycling the length of the UK from Lands’ End to John O’Groats.

  • Freelance Facilitator & Coach

    Freelance Facilitator & Coach

    This is an exciting opportunity to join SOHK's Schools Team in South Wales. SOHK’s Schools Facilitator and Coach for Wales will be responsible for supporting the delivery of both the male and female Schools Programmes for a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 days per week. Delivery days are likely to be a Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and will be in the Cwmbran, Pontypool and Bridgend areas in a school setting.

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  • Our story

    Our story

    The School of Hard Knocks journey so far.....

  • Adult Courses

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  • SOHK for Schools

    SOHK for Schools

    SOHK for Schools began in 2015. We now work with over 700 children every single week of the school year, across London, Cardiff and Scotland.

  • Aviva Community Fund - Vote Now!

    Aviva Community Fund - Vote Now!

    In 2017 SOHK narrowly missed out on being awarded the Aviva Community Fund, let's make 2018 our year!

  • Friends of SOHK

    Friends of SOHK

    Become a Friend of SOHK and help change lives for the better. We empower vulnerable adults and children so they can create a positive future, but we need your support. Please donate just £3 per month and help us change the game.

  • Ken Cowen - CEO

  • SOHK Participant of the Year Awards

    SOHK Participant of the Year Awards

    From across the country, the cream of SOHK participants gathered to be recognised for their hard work and inspiring achievements.

  • Rosa Innes - Programmes Director, Scotland

  • Catryn Grundy - Programmes Director, Cymru

  • Nathan Persaud - Programmes Director, England

 
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School of Hard Knocks is registered as a Charity (England & Wales charity no. 1147009, Scottish charity no. SC046118)

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