Premiership Rugby’s innovative social inclusion programme, Hitz, has been shortlisted for “Best sports-centred corporate sponsorship activity” in the 2012 Corporate Engagement Awards.
Glasshouse Partnership, which has a track record of working with clients to develop powerful ‘social sponsorships’, has been working with Hitz’s to promote rugby as a positive way of engaging youth from inner city London estates.
Hitz targets 11-19 year olds who are at risk of offending or already involved in crime, by using referrals from pupil referral units, schools, youth services, social services or the police. It works to embed respectful behaviour through the ethos of rugby both on and off the pitch, carrying out youth- work style sessions and educating young people to make more informed choices.
Results have been very strong:
- Crime statistics for the Haggerston Park area in Hackney shows a drop of 39% reported ASB calls during the time when the sessions are running
- Staff recorded a 69% improvement in behaviour at the sessions
- 73% of participants think the sessions have enabled them to control their emotions/anger
- At 75% of Hitz venues, at least one young person has progressed from simply being a participant to becoming a volunteer, eventually becoming a paid coach.
- 98% say they have made new friends from different estates, schools and areas
Winners of the 2012 Corporate Engagement Awards will be announced on 18th September. Visit www.corporateengagementawards.com or follow #CEA2012 for more information.
James Thellusson, founder of Glasshouse Partnership, said, “Innovative businesses are looking to use their sports sponsorships not just to build brand warmth but to deliver social change. That way, they can join up sponsorship goals with corporate and CSR objectives. Professional rugby has been at the forefront of this for years now and we’re delighted to be associated with them.”