At Firethorn, we believe that creating modern and sustainable spaces goes hand-in-hand with building stronger communities. Our mission is to make a positive impact and ensure that every area we build within is better tomorrow than it is today.
We’re proud to announce our new three-year partnership with School Of Hard Knocks (SOHK), an education inclusion charity dedicated to empowering young individuals, who are living in complex and challenging circumstances.
Focused on supporting communities that neighbour our London developments, including One Bessborough Gardens in Central London and our student accommodation projects in Stratford and Hackney Wick, this partnership will enable the delivery and expansion of SOHK’s vital Schools Programme.
Support where it’s needed most
SOHK transforms the lives of young people aged 11-16 being left behind in education. Through a unique 2-3 year intervention comprising of rugby, mentoring, and Social & Emotional Learning experiences, it helps disengaged pupils who are most at risk of inequality improve attendance, behaviour, and wellbeing.
Across the UK, thousands of children are missing school, with educators seeking SOHK’s support at unprecedented levels. Amid rising Additional Support Needs (ASN), exclusions, and youth disorder, this work is more vital than ever.
SOHK offers a second chance to young people in deprived areas, building resilience, re-engaging them with education, and keeping them off the streets and giving them a chance to thrive.
A closer look at the scale of the challenge:
- Young people eligible for free school meals are nearly five times more likely to be permanently excluded than their peers
- Children in need (CIN) are seven times more likely to face permanent exclusion
- Three in five permanently excluded children live in poverty
- 23% of 11-16 year olds have a mental health need (NHS England 2023)
- The lifetime cost to the state per child that is permanently excluded is £170,000 – which equated to £1.6billion in lifetime costs for the 2022/23 cohort of school leavers alone.
The Covid-19 pandemic intensified these challenges, with widespread disruption to education severely impacting children’s mental health and wellbeing. Since 2020, there has been a 485% increase in participants to the SOHK schools programme, highlighting the urgent need for this ongoing support.
Creating change through sport and mentorship
The challenges faced by SOHK beneficiaries are extremely varied – ranging from social emotional learning (SEL) needs and disruptions to education, to living in extreme poverty, homelessness, or being a victim of exploitation or abuse. SOHK is helping them rewrite their story.
As an inclusive sport, with 28% growth in the women’s game since 2017, SOHK sees rugby as the perfect vehicle for change. Every body shape is welcomed, and every player has a unique role that creates high interdependence – making it the ultimate sport for teaching trust, communication and teamwork.
Rugby also provides a powerful tool for teaching life skills. It requires emotional regulation and courage, helping young people to overcome fear, which is typically the key driver of negative behaviour. For most participants, the sport is entirely new, creating a level playing field from the outset, whilst supporting the growth of self-esteem and confidence in a fun and engaging way.
Blended with group and one-to-one mentoring, this long-term approach allows participants to gain support and insights from both SOHK’s expert facilitators and their peers, while finding purpose and meaning in their lives, with the tools to cope with their experiences and reach their full potential.
The impact of SOHK’s work speaks for itself. Following participation in the Schools Programme:
- 91% of participants report feeling more confident in their abilities
- 90% of participants report feeling more engaged at school
- 89% of participants report feeling more hopeful for the future.[1]
Chris Webb, Founding Director at Firethorn, said: “Our work is more than just creating spaces. It’s about building communities where people can thrive. Supporting School of Hard Knocks allows us to make a meaningful difference for the next generation, giving them the opportunity to reach their full potential.”
Ken Cowen, CEO and Founder at School of Hard Knocks, said: “We’re thrilled to partner with Firethorn Trust – a company that genuinely understands that creating sustainable places also means investing in people and communities.
“This support will help us meet surging demand and deepen our work in London, reaching and empowering more young people who are so often overlooked.
“Through this partnership, we can change the narrative for a generation in need. A big thank you to Chris, Peter, and the Firethorn team for helping us build brighter futures.”
Building for the future
Each SOHK Schools Programme costs £42,000 to run for one academic year. While schools contribute what they can, SOHK relies on grants, donations and corporate partners like Firethorn to fundraise the remaining amount.
Our partnership will directly support the delivery of programmes across Hertfordshire and North London, where SOHK currently supports 364 students in 13 schools every week of the academic year, for up to three years. We’re proud of the legacy this will create for young people most in need, helping them to build the resilience and skills they need to succeed.
To find out more, visit www.schoolofhardknocks.org.uk
[1] Figures provided by School of Hard Knocks
