Landing after Easter break and at the start of School Term 3, the School Of Hard Knocks (SOHK) end of year tournaments in Wales delivered exactly what SOHK is all about: teamwork, confidence and pride in showing up and giving it your best shot!


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.  

As always, these events are the perfect chance to showcase the power of sport as a catalyst for positive change. We were so thrilled that some of our valued supporters and donors could make it along to see our young participants in action!

Here come the girls!

Our girls’ tournament brought together three schools and 36 pupils for an exciting day on the pitch. The feedback from participants captured the spirit perfectly: 


“I’ve had an amazing day, made new friends, everyone is nice and it felt like we were all one big team.”

“It’s been good today as we’ve been able to play tackle games with the other teams.” 



“I have had the best day of my life as I have interacted with loads of new people!” 


These snapshots of what participation truly means to our girls remind us that success isn’t solely measured by results, but by growth, friendships and feeling seen and heard. 



Buzz from the boys

On the boys’ side, five schools, six teams and 74 pupils took part in a competitive but supportive tournament that showcased resilience, teamwork and real pride in effort. 


One pupil boldly summed up the impact of the programme saying: 
“I 100% know if it was not for School Of Hard Knocks, I would have been kicked out of school by now.” 
Another added: 
“I’m absolutely buzzing from today! School Of Hard Knocks is the best part of school life.” 

That’s a wrap

A SOHK tournament creates a unique opportunity for every young person benefiting from the charity’s early intervention to feel included, valued and capable - often in ways they hadn’t experienced before. 



“We’re incredibly proud of every pupil who took part, the schools who supported the events, and our dedicated staff who continue to make days like these possible.  

“Thank you to everyone who helped make our Wales tournaments such a success. We can’t wait for what’s next.” 




– Jodie Taylor, Regional Manager for SOHK in Wales

Find out more information about our schools programme.