Salwa - S London 2014

Latest

Success at Broadwood Stadium

Wednesday 13th May saw more than 275 of our young SOHK participants at Broadwood Stadium in literal rain, hail and shine for our 4th annual SOHK Scotland Rugby Festival.
Winning in Wales: Celebrating achievement

Across two action‑packed tournaments on the last days of April 2026, over 110 pupils from schools across Wales came together to compete, work together and celebrate their successes on the SOHK programme.
Believe to Achieve: Lily’s Story

SOHK participant Lily struggled with a complicated home life which affected her schooling. Once SOHK was introduced, Lily realised that her future wasn't as lost as she thought it was.
Royal Musselburgh Invitational Day 2026

Join us on 24th September for an exclusive day of golf, prize giving, and fundraising at the historic James Braid-designed The Royal Musselburgh Golf Course on East Lothian’s inimitable ‘Golf Coast’ hosted by rugby icon and top golfer Gavin Hastings OBE.

Alys Shows Up

Alys was part of a big friendship group that “messed around a lot” and often got into trouble. Her relationships with teachers were sometimes strained, and her confidence and self-esteem were low. Through weekly sessions with SOHK, things began to change. Even Alys says her behaviour has improved massively!
Finding confidence - Asher's story

Asher sees SOHK as a place where he can relax and be himself. “People used to take advantage of me,” he says. “Not anymore. I’ve got more confidence now and even work better with people I don’t know.”
Rewriting Lowri's Story

Lowri credits the programme for helping her reflect on her choices and find ways to cope. “Just letting me talk about the situation… even if you didn’t care, just acting like you did care helped. It made me feel like I was more understood instead of people telling me I’ll be fine...”
A Safe Space for Malia

Malia* has been part of the School of Hard Knocks (SOHK) programme for over two years. Now in Year 9, she speaks with pride and a growing sense of self-belief about how far she’s come – and how different her relationship with school looks today.
Mo's Story

Facing the risk of exclusion, Mo joined the SOHK programme, which became a turning point in his journey. Since joining, Mo has shown incredible resilience and commitment. He has immersed himself in the programme, finding an outlet for his anger and a break from the challenges of school.
Chloe's Story

Despite her resilience, repeated home-life changes left her feeling abandoned and distrustful of adults. At school, she struggled and was often perceived as defiant, putting her at risk of exclusion. Despite her challenges, she remained determined to find some stability. While her initial attitude was one of resistance. Chloe has committed 100% attendance from the beginning...
Gaia’s Story

"I’m starting to feel like I belong here. It’s not easy, but I feel stronger and more confident, and am starting to trust people more." By focusing on her strengths and pairing her with supportive students, Gaia’s confidence grew. Four months into the programme, she has built strong relationships with her peers and staff and now receives support from the school’s pastoral team.
Ryan's story

"SOHK has helped me believe in myself again. I used to get so frustrated, but now I know how to stay calm, talk to someone, and get back in the game.”Two years into the programme, Ryan has absolutely flourished both on and off the field. His rugby ability has greatly improved, and he has developed strong coping mechanisms, demonstrating emotional regulation and resilience...
Joseph's story

"I never thought I'd actually look forward to school." Joseph has told the team that SOHK has had a significant impact on his school experience. He feels more confident and looks forward to sharing his weekly experiences with his mentor. He now feels better equipped to handle bullying and has a trusted adult he can approach when he feels unsafe or targeted.
Maura's story

“I’m learning to be strong for myself. Even when things are hard, I want to keep going. SOHK has helped me feel like I have people who care.” Throughout her time with SOHK, Maura has shown remarkable resilience. Despite her challenges, she remains engaged, displaying determination and resilience...

About Us

SOHK's mission is to empower children to realise their full potential. We envision is a society where every young person has an equal opportunity to succeed.
SOHK Schools Programme

The SOHK Schools Programme combines rugby sessions, 1-2-1 mentoring, and group discussions delivered by a consistent team of experts dedicated to supporting a young person's growth and potential.
Ken Cowen - Founder & CEO
Our History

School Of Hard Knocks (SOHK) was set up by Ken Cowen in 2009 and established as a not-for-profit organisation in 2012. Initially set up to help individuals find and sustain employment, SOHK has developed significantly over the years in order to adapt to society's ever-changing landscape.
Become a regular giver

Become a Friend of SOHK and help change lives for the better. We support empower vulnerable children so they can create a positive future, but we need your support. Please donate just £3 per month and help us change the game.
Donate today

SOHK delivers life-changing schools programmes for secondary school-age young people across the UK. By fostering an environment of genuine acceptance, and physical activity, group and one-to-one support sessions, SOHK enables participants to find meaning and purpose in life. As a charity, we depend on generous donations to support our mission and extend our reach to young people whose lives can be transformed by our programmes.
Rosa Innes - Head of Partnerships, Scotland
Policies and reports

Policies and reports
Our Psychology

All of School Of Hard Knocks (SOHK) activities are underpinned by 'the 3Cs'. This framework was originally developed by Dr. Chris Harwood and Dr. Karl Steptoe as a coaching methodology for youth football that incorporated life skills development. Over the years, School Of Hard Knocks has drawn on this evidence-based practice and applied it to SOHK Programmes. The 3Cs seek to improve an individual's confidence, control, and connection.
Impact and statistics