SOHK participant Jane lives with mild hearing loss in both ears. A setting like SOHK made her nervous at first - but then Jane discovered her own passion, power, and persistence - and it's paying off every single session. Read more
We interview Scottish Rugby player Rhea Clarke about what rugby has meant to her and about what charities like School Of Hard Knocks (SOHK) mean for young players today. Read more
Boundaries done well, build trust, safety and growth. That is why our early intervention schools’ programme focuses so much on trust built through structure. Read more
School Of Hard Knocks publishes its latest Impact Report spanning the charity's work from throughout the 2024/25 academic year. Read more
In March 2026, we held our Scotland East and West Mini Rugby Tournaments - events which help our students put what they've learned into practice. Read more
Our annual girls’ and boys’ Spring rugby tournaments are back! The tournaments held at Eton Manor RFC in March saw nearly 350 young people from the charity’s school programmes take to the pitch to show off their skills. Read more
This December, we’re asking you to #SKIPTHEPRESENTS and stand with the young people who are so often left behind while the rest of the world celebrates. Please help us give young people what they deserve: a future they can believe in. Every donation will be doubled! Read more
UK school attendance is at record lows. Explore why absences are rising, what the consequences are, and solutions School of Hard Knocks are taking to tackle persistent absenteeism and encourage kids to come to schools. Read more
School Of Hard Knocks’ (SOHK) Life President, Deborah Griffin OBE, has been appointed the first female President by the RFU Council. Read more
The 2025 school year has come to an end across the UK – hurrah! - and we’re both thrilled and encouraged by the outstanding performance reports coming in from our partner schools. Read more
28 cyclists. 200km cycled. More than £30,000 raised. We are blown away by the support, strength, and spirit shown by everyone involved in the IOW Cycle Ride! Read more
If you’ve ever watched a student erupt in frustration or shut down entirely, you’ve probably asked yourself: what’s really going on beneath the surface? Read more
Alys was part of a big friendship group that “messed around a lot” and often got into trouble. Her relationships with teachers were sometimes strained, and her confidence and self-esteem were low. Through weekly sessions with SOHK, things began to change. Even Alys says her behaviour has improved massively! Read more
Asher sees SOHK as a place where he can relax and be himself. “People used to take advantage of me,” he says. “Not anymore. I’ve got more confidence now and even work better with people I don’t know.” Read more
Lowri credits the programme for helping her reflect on her choices and find ways to cope. “Just letting me talk about the situation… even if you didn’t care, just acting like you did care helped. It made me feel like I was more understood instead of people telling me I’ll be fine...” Read more
Malia* has been part of the School of Hard Knocks (SOHK) programme for over two years. Now in Year 9, she speaks with pride and a growing sense of self-belief about how far she’s come – and how different her relationship with school looks today. Read more
To fulfil their potential, a young person needs the right support system. In this Q&A, Senior SEL Lead Claire Hawes gives us a powerful look into what that support looks like in action, and why more schools are turning to SOHK to transform student wellbeing and engagement. Read more
Over 175 students from nine schools across Glasgow, Fife, West Lothian, and beyond came together at Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld, for our third annual Spring School of Hard Knocks (SOHK) Scotland Rugby Festival. Read more
Over 150 boys and girls from five schools across South Wales came together at Caerau Ely Rugby Club at the beginning of May for the School of Hard Knocks (SOHK) Wales Spring Rugby Festival – a two-day celebration of sport, teamwork, and personal growth. Read more
Investec has strengthened its partnership with School of Hard Knocks (SOHK) Charity by supporting its annual girls’ and boys’ Spring rugby tournaments. The tournaments held at Eton Manor RFC in March, saw nearly 300 young people from the charity’s school programmes take to the pitch to show off their skills! Read more
School Of Hard Knocks (SOHK) is thrilled to celebrate the valued support of The Clarkson Foundation, whose generous contributions are helping us make a lasting difference in the lives of young people. The Foundation’s dedication to supporting SOHK’s resilience-building programme at two of our schools in London is having a profound impact on students at these critical stages in their lives. Read more
We are thrilled to welcome Shaunagh Brown as a Trustee of School of Hard Knocks (SOHK)! Shaunagh Brown is a true game-changer - an elite athlete, former England rugby star, firefighter, and a powerful voice for inclusion. She's spent her career breaking down barriers, and we know Shaunagh will bring that same drive and leadership to SOHK, helping us level the playing field for young people who need it most. Read more
Just before the Scottish mid-term break, we were thrilled to bring together around 100 enthusiastic young pupils (and teachers!) from four schools - Newbattle High School, Dalkeith High School, Lochgelly High School, and Craigmount High School - at Lasswade RFC in Bonnyrigg for our East of Scotland Schools Mini Rugby Tournament. The event provided a fantastic opportunity for the boys and girls to display their rugby ability and newly acquired team-building skills while having fun with the Read more
The Annual School Of Hard Knocks (SOHK) Long Lunch has shattered records, raising an unprecedented £161,000 in a single afternoon to support young people facing significant life challenges. This milestone ensures that more boys and girls across the U.K. who are struggling in their education will gain access to SOHK’s transformational sports and mentoring programme, helping to build confidence, resilience, and brighter futures. Read more