Exeter HITZ youngster up for an award

By Mark Stevens
9/11/21

Jack Gollop is one of three young people from across the country’s HITZ programme, who have been nominated for the Physical Activity Award at this year’s HITZ Awards.

Jack, who is part of the hugely successful Exeter Chiefs HITZ programme, has been shortlisted for the HITZ Physical Activity Award alongside Dawda Darboe of Bristol Bears and Lion McDonald of Gloucester Rugby.

HITZ is Premiership Rugby’s flagship education and employability programme, working with over 2,000 14-to-23-year-olds across England every year with the support of the CVC Foundation and Wooden Spoon, and delivered with official education partner SCL Education Group.

HITZ is often the first time some young people have tried a new sport or been active for a long time - and the HITZ Physical Activity Award recognises a young person for their progress and development in sport and physical activity, rewarding progress in both their physical fitness and in living a healthier lifestyle.

It also looks at how being active has supported them to overcome a range of challenges and progress on their journey back to education, training or employment. Nominees have not just developed personally but also gone above and beyond to help other HITZ learners get active too. For example, they may have helped lead virtual workouts during lockdown, or set up an after HITZ running group.

Wayne Morris, Premiership Rugby’s Community and Corporate Responsibility Director spoke highly of all three nominees and underlined just how hard it was to reduce the list to only three candidates.

He said: “It was an incredibly strong pool of applications; it was a very lengthy debate between the judges to be able to narrow it down to a shortlist of three and our eventual winner. Through HITZ, all three found the sport that we all love. They have embraced the core values of rugby, using them to move forward positively in life. They are all an embodiment of how rugby can change lives for the better.

“What we’ve really seen over the last two years with Covid, and other challenges, is how important physical activity is in terms of improving people’s lives and life opportunities, not just through their physical health but also their mental wellbeing.”

This year’s shortlist is:

Jack Gollop - Exeter Chiefs

Jack was diagnosed with autism at a young age, making education and forming friendships challenging. Despite his loving and supportive family, he struggled with low self-confidence and a lack of self-belief.

He joined HITZ following his GCSEs, not wanting to return to a mainstream school after previously being bullied. While he was not sure on his career path, one thing that Jack was passionate about was football. HITZ provided an environment where Jack thrived and he discovered his desire for a career in sports coaching. Jack has taken an Under-7s football team under his wing, as well as coaching at rugby camps and supporting Exeter Chiefs SEN student rugby coaching. Jack dreams of coaching Exeter City FC.

Dawda Darboe - Bristol Bears

Dawda, who returned from Gambia aged 15 after both of his parents passed away, joined HITZ in March 2018. Until he joined HITZ, he was not in education, and was a shy individual struggling with isolation and lack of confidence.

Dawda ran regularly to support his mental health in a positive way, and always wanted to participate in other sports but could never afford to. HITZ provided an opportunity to try rugby, which helped turn his life around. He joined his local club Avonmouth RFC where he was voted ‘Most improved Player’ in May 2021. HITZ also helped Dawda gain work experience and qualifications despite the pandemic, resulting in a full-time role as an IT apprentice at Molson.

Lion McDonald - Gloucester Rugby

Lion struggles with asthma and is partially blind in one eye, leading to him never partaking in any sport before joining HITZ. At the age of 17, he decided to move in with his grandparents, a decision which his parents supported, after his grandfather was diagnosed with cancer.

Lion’s attitude was exemplary, trying every sport offered to him on the HITZ programme. He saw dramatic changes when he went from doing no physical activity, to taking part in sport every day, including a vast improvement in his insomnia, confidence and motivation. Thanks to HITZ, he is now in a routine and is physically active, working with his grandfather as a landscaper.