Tabard RFC and SOHK became acquainted in 2018 when Ross Hopcroft, President of the club, approached Ken Cowen to discuss the charity’s model and how it could be applied and delivered to local schools. Ross’s aim was twofold. One, to increase the amount of rugby being played in schools, which could benefit the rugby club in the longer term, but more importantly to support disadvantaged children in one of the most deprived areas in the southeast of England. Tabard RFC raised sufficient funds to support its first school and the programme kicked off in September 2018. The programme has blossomed ever since and Peter Gillet, Head of Hertswood Academy, has firmly established it as part of the school curriculum for the foreseeable future. Tabard RFC continues to raise money for SOHK through annual fundraising events as well as benefitting from locality & community grants. Hertfordshire RFU, the county’s constituent body, has also adopted SOHK as its charity of choice and along with Herts Sports Partnership (HSP) will actively support the expansion of the programme throughout Hertfordshire in 2021.
Mizuno is the official SOHK kit supplier, providing training and match kit to every SOHK course. The brand provides a complete range of kit solutions for sporting and leisure activities.
Thanks to the generosity of M Restaurants, SOHK have been able to hold a host of fundraising events at a fantastic venue.
Millharbour Marketing provides pro bono sponsorship consulting to SOHK to improve the sponsorship infrastructure, proposition, processes and management efficiency to help SOHK to deliver increasing value to sponsors.
Milbank provide pro bono law services to SOHK. Their staff also volunteer on SOHK courses, helping our participants to develop their CVs and interview skills, and fundraise for us, for example on our Chamonix fundraising challenge.
1823 Group provides all SOHK's communications and energy solutions. Their business provides comprehensive business telecommunications services to companies at incredibly competitive prices. They enable clients to meet their Corporate Social Responsibility objectives by donating half of their profits on a monthly basis to the sports club or charities of the client's choice. In the last two years, they have donated over £30 000 to SOHK.
Maggie Alphonsi MBE is the face of international women’s rugby and arguably one of the most well-known names in women’s team sports on the planet. Most recently she was a crucial member of the team that won the 2014 Rugby World Cup for the first time in 20 years, and was part of the team that was crowned the BBC’s Sports Personality Team of the Year.tf
Andy Grant is a former Royal Marine Commando who served in Iraq and Afghanistan before he was severely injured. Rather than see this as a barrier, Andy has adapted and overcome. He encapsulates perfectly the attitude and values of SOHK. In 2017, he broke the 10km amputee World Record in just over 38 minutes.
Nigel Owens is one of the world's leading rugby referees. Highly respected, he has officiated in many of the sport's key matches, including the 2014 Rugby World Cup Final. Openly gay, Owens was recently awarded Sportsperson of the Decade by the charity Stonewall. He's a longtime friend of School of Hard Knocks.
Andy played rugby union for England 35 times and was involved in the World Cup winning squad of 2003. He played a central role in the 2007 World Cup, starting in the final. He has a strong standing in the business world as well as in the sporting arena and is a passionate supporter of SOHK.