Havant Rugby Football Club (Havant RFC) names School of Hard Knocks its Charity of the Year

School of Hard Knocks has been selected as Havant RFC’s Charity of the year for its 2024/25 season by its members, players, staff and volunteers.

Havant RFC - which was founded back in 1951 and now boasts 6 senior men's & women's teams, 600 children & young people and over 1,400 members - has committed all its annual charity fundraising efforts to help School of Hard Knocks for the coming season.

School of Hard Knocks exists to support young people who are at risk of exclusion from school or at risk of losing their way in their education. They enable meaningful change in young people’s lives through high impact sports like Rugby, mentoring and the power of teamwork. Thanks to the generosity of its supporters, SOHK currently supports over 1200 young people across England, Scotland & Wales to reach their potential.

Jon Mangnall, President of Havant RFC said:

“Havant RFC is delighted to have selected SOHK as our chosen charity for the 2024-25 season. As a community rugby club we are very conscious of the demographic that we have served for the last 70 years and the challenges that many of the young people in our area are faced with. We will not only be raising money to support the SOHK plan to bring their programme to our local schools and community but will be proactively working with the SOHK team to help with the implementation of the programme’.

Ken Cowen, CEO and Founder of School of Hard Knocks said:

“We are incredibly excited to have been selected as Havant RFCs Charity of the Year. Rugby is such a fundamental part of how we work with our young people; it feels like the perfect partnership for us. We look forward to working with Havant RFC over the coming year to raise funds and awareness.”

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About Us

SOHK's mission is to empower children to realise their full potential. We envision is a society where every young person has an equal opportunity to succeed.
SOHK Schools Programme

The SOHK Schools Programme combines rugby sessions, 1-2-1 mentoring, and group discussions delivered by a consistent team of experts dedicated to supporting a young person's growth and potential.
Ken Cowen - Founder & CEO
Our History

School Of Hard Knocks (SOHK) was set up by Ken Cowen in 2009 and established as a not-for-profit organisation in 2012. Initially set up to help individuals find and sustain employment, SOHK has developed significantly over the years in order to adapt to society's ever-changing landscape.
Become a regular giver

Become a Friend of SOHK and help change lives for the better. We support empower vulnerable 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.
Donate today

SOHK delivers life-changing schools programmes for secondary school-age young people across the UK. By fostering an environment of genuine acceptance, and physical activity, group and one-to-one support sessions, SOHK enables participants to find meaning and purpose in life. As a charity, we depend on generous donations to support our mission and extend our reach to young people whose lives can be transformed by our programmes.
Rosa Innes - Head of Partnerships, Scotland
Policies and reports

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Our Psychology

All of School Of Hard Knocks (SOHK) activities are underpinned by 'the 3Cs'. This framework was originally developed by Dr. Chris Harwood and Dr. Karl Steptoe as a coaching methodology for youth football that incorporated life skills development. Over the years, School Of Hard Knocks has drawn on this evidence-based practice and applied it to SOHK Programmes. The 3Cs seek to improve an individual's confidence, control, and connection.
Impact and statistics