Bath ladies coach named a ‘hitz hero’ by Premiership Rugby
Jasmine Ford from Bath is one of six outstanding young individuals who have been named a ‘HITZ Hero 2021’ by Premiership Rugby, in recognition of her achievements despite the challenges of the pandemic.
A breakdown of family life and bullying at school severely impacted the mental wellbeing of Jasmine. Struggling with low self-esteem and a lack of confidence, this also meant she rarely participated in physical exercise. But fast forward to 2021 and Jasmine is now coaching Bath Ladies Mixed Ability Rugby Team.
HITZ is Premiership Rugby’s flagship education and employability programme, working with more than 2,000 14–23-year-olds across England every year. The aim of HITZ is to help young people classified as NEET (not in education, employment or training) turn their lives around through gaining qualifications and developing their personal, employability and life skills.
The HITZ Heroes 2021 awards, which are supported by former England International and HITZ Ambassador, Ugo Monye, are a celebration of triumph over adversity during the last 12 months. Each has their own individual story but what unites the six heroes is their determination to overcome barriers to unlock their own potential.
Passionate about animal care, Jasmine struggled at college as her experiences at school left her finding it hard to socially interact and build relationships. A conversation with a college tutor led Jasmine to HITZ and the start of her journey to better mental health.
Mia Suter from Bath Rugby Foundation – who nominated Jasmine for a HITZ Hero award – said,“Jaz really struggled during the lockdown due to the lack of social interaction after working hard to build relationships with peers in her class. Although she struggled before joining HITZ, she has built amazing bonds with fellow classmates often taking on the role of support for those who are in need. Jaz has helped a number of other learners with issues they face regardless of how much she may also be struggling.”
With the Government reporting unemployment for young people increasing by 11% since the start of the pandemic, and that by the end of last year there were an estimated 800,000 16-24yr olds in the UK classified as NEET, Premiership Rugby’s commitment to supporting and developing individuals like this has only become more steadfast.
Supported by the CVC Foundation, Wooden Spoon and SCL Education, nearly 16,000 young people have engaged in the HITZ programme since it was created in 2008.
Ugo added, “HITZ is a programme very close to my heart. The incredible resilience and determination that these young people have shown during the last year is inspiring.”
The six young individuals named HITZ Heroes 2021 are:
Callum Hope, from Exeter
Darnel Mingle, from London
Lewis Hyett, from Gloucester
Jasmine Ford, from Bath
Jayden Thompson, from Sale
Tia Roberts, from Northampton
Pictured above: Jasmine Ford
