looking ahead
Sharif’s Story

Sharif*, 14, lives with his parents and is an only child. His family moved to the UK from overseas and while English is his second language, their native language is still spoken at home. Family is incredibly important to Sharif, and they share a close bond. Outside of school, he spent much of his time gaming online from his room with friends or enjoying activities just with his parents. 

But at school, Sharif was withdrawn and frequently resisted being pushed outside of his comfort zone, so he was recommended to the School Of Hard Knocks (SOHK) programme. When Sharif first joined SOHK, he lacked confidence in himself and his abilities. Small in stature for his age, he often underestimated what he was capable of and worried about being judged by his peers. The thought of taking part in contact rugby was particularly daunting for him. Sharif was concerned about getting hurt and feared that he would slow the rest of the group down. His feelings weighed him down and held him back from participation at school. 

In the early weeks of the programme, the SOHK delivery team found Sharif to be quieter and more hesitant than others in the group. He rarely spoke up, worried that he might say the wrong thing or be judged. However, as the weeks passed and his confidence began to grow, so too did his willingness to challenge the limits he had placed on himself. 

Over the past year, Sharif has experienced one of the most significant transformations within the group which has been wonderful to see. Through rugby, personalised 1:1 mentoring, and the supportive environment created by SOHK at his school, he has become physically stronger and far more self-assured. The young person who once wanted to avoid rugby sessions has become a key member of the team, helping to bring his peers together and contributing positively to group activities. 

The impact has extended beyond the rugby pitch. At school, Sharif has grown from having a small circle of close friends to being part of a wider network of peers who support one another. He now enjoys the social side of school much more and values the sense of belonging that comes from being part of a team. His friendships have flourished, and he knows there are people around him who will offer support when he needs it. 

Perhaps the greatest change has been in how Sharif sees himself. Where he once kept his talents hidden, he is now willing to put himself forward and share his ideas with confidence. Inspired by this newfound self-belief, he has set himself an ambitious career goal: to become a content creator and online streamer. He has already started creating and sharing content online, something he would never have considered before joining the programme. 

“Sharif’s journey is an inspiring and powerful example of what can happen when a young person is given the confidence, support and opportunities to step beyond their comfort zone. While he has already made remarkable progress, this is only the beginning of his story.”

– SOHK Team Lead 

With growing self-belief, stronger relationships, and bigger ambitions for the future, Sharif is now looking ahead with confidence and excitement. 

*Name and image have been changed to protect the identity of our beneficiary.