INVESTEC, title sponsor of the Champions Cup, has announced a three-year partnership with School of Hard Knocks, a charity that uses sport to teach valuable skills to underprivileged people.

Through the partnership, Investec will provide participating children with career insights and development days. It will also support SOHK with strategic business mentorship to grow the charity. SOHK works with more than 1,400 pupils across 30 schools in England, Scotland and Wales.

Programmes combine rugby with specialist one-to-one mentoring and group sessions that explore a range of issues from emotional control to planning for the future.

These programmes highlight how rugby can act as a vehicle to deliver positive social change, combined with personal development and mentoring, and, as a result, enrich the lives of those living in underprivileged communities.

One case study cites a youngster called Macy, who used SOHK's resources to grow in confidence, cocaptain her rugby team and reduce disruptive behaviour patterns that existed before SOHK's intervention.

The announcement comes after the recent Investec School of Hard Knocks Girls tournament, hosted at Eton Manor RFC, where more than 100 girls came together to compete and exemplify the core values of rugby both on and off the pitch.

Tim Burnell, Investec chief marketing officer, said: "At Investec, we are firmly rooted in our purpose to create enduring worth, and recognise the potential of grassroots sports-based programmes to deliver long-term and tangible benefits to individuals and communities."

Ken Cowen, SOHK founder and chief, said: "With Investec's invaluable support, we are poised to expand our reach and deepen our impact, enriching the lives of many young people in underserved communities."

(c) 2024 City A.M., source Newspaper